THREE issues were destined to dominate the final countdown to this year's Masters - and they have.

One is controversial, one very sad and one a tactic that Colin Montgomerie says has caught everybody on the hop.

The controversy is whether Augusta National's powers-that-be have handed too much of an advantage to the game's biggest hitters. That they have literally gone too far this time.

Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer have gone on record as saying they think the stretching of six holes was not the wisest move ever taken at this Mecca of golf, with Nicklaus even stating: "They have ruined it from a tournament standpoint."

The two legends are not competitors this week, but last year's Players Championship winner Fred Funk is and, as one of the shortest hitters, said: "I am frustrated with where the game is going. They are eliminating the majority of the field."

The second, very sad, issue involves Tiger Woods. Ever since he skipped practice at the Players Championship to fly to California speculation has been rife that he might be missing because of his father's cancer battle. And even if he does play, how much it might affect his chances of winning again.

Phil Mickelson hit good form last week in winning the BellSouth Classic, and his decision to use two drivers there and at Augusta - one to draw the ball, the other to fade - has become the third issue.

If the left-hander regains the title on Sunday it will be a genius decision and one which could well start a trend.

Actually, it is only five years since the leader of a major had two drivers in his bag. Trouble is, one of Ian Woosnam's drivers in the Open at Lytham was not supposed to be there and he was penalised two strokes.

Woods was asked yesterday if he had tried it. "No," he said. "Well, one driver was in two pieces, but that's about it."

Last year Woods separated himself from the rest with victories in the Masters and the Open. Mickelson then won the US PGA and with his form last week a shoot-out is possible.

But if anyone is to muscle in on that - and muscle would be very useful this week - then Retief Goosen, Ernie Els and Vijay Singh are the three most likely.