Why Tiger Woods will not win this year's Masters and the Grand Slam

Because a “Why Tiger Woods will win the Masters” blog shouldn’t need more than about a sentence ("He’s Tiger, dude."), here are the reasons he will come up short this week at Augusta and lose his Grand Slam bid in its first leg.

- Course conditions: Last year, Augusta National was not the Augusta we know and love. Thanks to a windy cold front mixed with already incredibly firm greens and a harder-than-ever course set up, it scored more like a U.S. Open. The “roar” we’ve come to know and love about Augusta was gone. It revealed a somewhat fluky winner in Zach Johnson, while Tiger finished second.

If Augusta goes the same route and tries to be a major it’s not and the weather cooperates, the best player in the field may not come out on top.

- Geoff Ogilvy: Ogilvy has the length, the high ball and the current confidence, coming off a win and top five to challenge his good buddy. I also don’t think he is as intimidated as other players on tour of Tiger. If he can head into the weekend in the top ten, he’s my horse - just like he was at Winged Foot in 2006.

- Photographer Revolt: Still angry about being shown up at Doral, all of the credentialed photographers at Augusta hold a candlelight meeting in the wee hours of the morning Wednesday and conclude they will take down Tiger themselves, one premature shutter click at a time.

- Woods can’t rally: If there is any doubt in Tiger’s dominance, it’s that he can’t stage a back nine Sunday rally. Last year in the Masters, his aggressiveness from the right rough on 15, resulting in coming up short into the water, cost him dearly.

Then again, last year may have taught Tiger a valuable lesson.

- Woods’ psyche: Now that Woods’ ‘perfect season’ is for not, is his psyche damaged? It’s hard to believe Woods will show up not believing he’s the lead horse, but you have to wonder if his loss at Doral instilled any uncertainty into his swing.

I was predicting a potential Grand Slam at the end of 2007, but now I’m not so sure, because as Woods said on Sunday Conversation on ESPN, even perfect play needs a little luck and some good bounces to win all four. The Grand Slam depends on more than just Woods.

Predictions? Not quite yet, it’s Monday. I have to see who wins the par-3 first.