PGA

• Can Tiger pull it off?

  
  By Jim Brighters, Golf Editor

  Augusta, GA (Sports Network) - By now, you've had to have heard the statistic.

  Tiger Woods has never won any of his 13 major championships without at least a share of the 54-hole lead.

  On Sunday afternoon, Woods takes aim at history down six shots to Trevor Immelman. He has only four players ahead of him in his quest for a fifth green jacket.

  That's assuming, of course, that no one else makes a move. Brandt Snedeker is two back to start the final round, with Steve Flesch three behind and Paul Casey four off the pace.

  Due respect to this quartet at the top, but Woods has 13 more major championships than these four combined. Woods is the name you're hearing the most as the man to catch Immelman.

  Woods certainly has more than just talent and experience on his side. Wind gusts are expected to reach 25 mph on Sunday. The tougher the conditions, the more you bet on the most-talented of the group.

  "I've been around here, I played under these tough conditions here before. It's been blustery here before," Woods said Saturday night. "You got to hang in there and be patient out there because it doesn't take much to make a high number out here."

  Truthfully, who's more likely to make a big number, Immelman or Woods? Immelman has been brilliant this week. He's made only two bogeys and missed four fairways for the tournament. That is a formula for major success, but wind can make a player go crazy.

  Think of it this way. If Woods can get off to a decent start with birdies at two and some other hole, and Immelman makes two bogeys, the lead's two. At this point with the wind and varying levels of handling pressure in Sunday major rounds, you have to like Woods a little only two back.

  That scenario is entirely feasible. Again, Immelman has been nothing short of sensational all week, but staring at your name atop the Masters leaderboard on Sunday is daunting.

  Imagine that it's never happened to you before. Now imagine Woods' name is creeping up the leaderboard. If you don't start to feel anything, someone better come oil your joints, because you are a cyborg.

  Long story short, these inexperienced pups know the big man is lurking.

  "I'm sure he's going to be a factor. His name is going to be on the leaderboard somewhere tomorrow," Snedeker said on Saturday. "It's going to be there on the back nine. You have to realize that Trevor and all of us in front of him, if we go out there and play a good round of golf, he's going to have to play an extremely great round of golf to beat us."

  That is true. Six shots is six shots no matter what name is up there. But this is Tiger Woods. This is his venue. As overrated as the statistic is (why come from behind when you're burying the field?), Woods will have many hurdles to clear Sunday afternoon.

  But would you bet against him? The statistic may be a footnote by Sunday night.

  04/13 14:35:58 ET