The Associated Press

Tiger Woods and the gallery react to his hole-in-one at the ninth hole during the Par 3 Contest at the Augusta National Golf Club Wednesday. Padraig Harrington won the event in a three-hole playoff. The Associated Press

AUGUSTA, Ga. - The man in the green jacket raved about Phil Mickelson's record at the Masters - seven times in the top 10, no worse than seventh since 1999.

Mickelson saw what was coming and beat everyone to the punch.

"But no wins," he said.

Then, he reached over and playfully tugged at the sleeve of the Augusta National member sitting next to him.

"I want what you have," he said. "I want one of these. Those are nice."

Getting one has proved to be a major challenge for Mickelson, who comes into the Masters riding a streak - 0-for-42 in the majors - that has come to define an otherwise impeccable career.

No one questions his awesome ability. Mickelson has won 22 times on the PGA Tour, more than any other active player besides Tiger Woods. He is long off the tee and has a short game that even Woods says is the best in golf.

But his lack of a major became even more glaring last year when another lefty - Mike Weir of Canada - showed the mettle of major champions by making clutch putts down the stretch to win the Masters.

What about Phil?

"I think he's going to win a major championship," Mark O'Meara said. "And I think it's going to happen soon."

Mickelson's hopes are higher than ever this year, and for good reason.

Coming off his worst season on the PGA Tour - so bad that one golf publication failed to list him among the top 30 players going into the year - Mickelson looks stronger than ever.

He refused to start practicing until Jan. 1 to emphasize that last year was behind him, then came out of the blocks by winning the Bob Hope Classic and getting into Sunday contention every time he has played.

He has toned down his swing, costing him some 15 yards off the tee that he could afford to lose in exchange for playing out of the fairway. He is controlling his irons with three-quarter shots instead of swinging from the heels.

"Phil, he's probably played the best out of the whole lot," Ernie Els said.

This might be the place for Mickelson to prove it.

Mickelson is so serious about this year's Masters that he came to Augusta National last week for two practice rounds. He identified his problems the last three years - all of them third-place finishes - by working with coaches Rick Smith and Dave Pelz to figure out where he can save a shot per round.

"I certainly feel like I have a very good chance," Mickelson said. "I've played very consistently, which is something I didn't do last year. I have a lot more confidence that I'll be there come the weekend. I'm playing well enough to get into contention without having to do anything extraordinary."

It all starts to unfold today in a Masters that is far different from a year ago.

The storms have passed - not only the rain that turned the course into a soft and soggy mess, but the controversy over the all-male membership at Augusta National.

"I really think the American public is ready for us to talk about golf," club chairman Hootie Johnson said Wednesday when asked about Martha Burk's campaign to get a woman into the club.

The course has never been this firm and fast since officials beefed it up two years ago by adding some 300 yards.

"This is what we've been looking for," Johnson said. "I couldn't predict a score, but I think it will be pretty tough out there if the course stays in the same condition."