Poulter: Up for the challenge
Tiger is not unbeatable, we've all seen it. He's human, there is blood inside him so it gives us all hope.
Ian Poulter
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Tiger Woods will, quite logically, start this week's Masters as overwhelming favourite to secure his 14th major crown, but two of England's leading hopes at Augusta insist he can be toppled.
Woods has a superb record at Augusta and goes in pursuit of his fifth Green Jacket in Georgia from Thursday.
In arguably the form of his life, the world number one will take some stopping having failed to win only one of his five outings so far this season.
That form has prompted talk of an unprecedented 'Grand Slam' of all four majors with bookmakers slashing the price on the American achieving the feat to as little as 8/1.
However, while much of the focus will be on Woods this week, his rivals intend to use last year's surprise champion Zach Johnson as inspiration.
"Tiger is always the guy to beat," Luke Donald told Sky Sports. "He's the number one golfer out there, he pushes us to practice harder, to work harder. But people like Zach Johnson give us hope."
Ian Poulter, never short on confidence, was even more bullish about the possibility of toppling Tiger.
"Tiger is not unbeatable, we've all seen it. He's human, there is blood inside him so it gives us all hope," he added.
However, another Englishman was quick to pay tribute to Woods ahead of the first major of the year.
Nick Dougherty makes his debut at Augusta this year, courtesy of his top-ten finish at last year's US Open, and believes in Woods he will be competing against the best of all time.
"He's a phenomenon, he really is," Dougherty said. "For me it's unquestionable he's the best golfer that's ever lived, arguably the best sportsman that's ever lived to this point.
"It's a wonderful time to be around the way Tiger is playing. He's changed the face of the game which is great for his fellow pros."
