Woods, an Augusta specialist, is short odds for a fifth Green Jacket

Another 155 yards have been added this year, making it the second longest course in major history at 7,445 yards.

Phil Mickelson is likely to be a big threat, while South African pair Retief Goosen and Ernie Els and Fiji's Vijay Singh may also figure come Sunday.

Of the British contingent, Luke Donald and David Howell are heavily-fancied.

Masters tee times

There had been speculation that world number one Woods would miss this year's Masters, the 70th, in order to spend time with his father Earl, who is battling cancer.

But the four-time champion will tee-off alongside Australia's Robert Allenby and 2005 US amateur champion Edoardo Molinari at 1523 BST.

Woods questions Augusta changes

World number four and 2004 Masters champion Mickelson is grouped with world number five Els and Japan's Shingo Katayama.

Mickelson, 35, defended his BellSouth Classic title last week, winning by 13 shots, and will be heavily backed.

Leading Brit Donald will go out with two-time champion Jose Maria Olazabal and David Toms, while Howell will spend the first two days with Mark Calcavecchia and Thongchai Jaidee.

British amateur champion Brian McElhinney of Ireland

Donald, who came third on his Masters debut last year, has rejected the theory only the longest hitters will compete and feels his accurate iron play will stand him in good stead.

Howell, who finished 11th on debut in 2005, returns as European rankings leader and could represent Britain's best chance of a first major winner since 1999.

World number two Singh, winner in 2000, is in a group with Henrik Stenson and Arron Oberholser. And third-ranked Goosen is matched with 2003 champion Mike Weir and Todd Hamilton.

Short game is crucial, says Monty

Other British interest will come in the form of Scotland's Colin Montgomerie, last year's European Order of Merit winner, who has missed his last four cuts.

Ulsterman Darren Clarke and Worksop's Lee Westwood are also in the field and, like Montgomerie, will be striving for their first major.

Ireland's Brian McElhinney, the winner of last year's British Amateur Championship, is grouped with US legend Tom Watson and current US Open champion Michael Campbell.

Spain's Sergio Garcia and Sweden's debutant Stenson, who both have prolific length off the tee, could mount challenges this year.

But a number of old favourites will be missing.

For the first time in a half-century of Masters history neither Jack Nicklaus nor Arnold Palmer will be teeing-up.

Palmer played his final masters in 2004 and Nicklaus followed suit last year, after playing the tournament 45 times and winning a record six Green Jackets.

The two joint-holders of the course record of 63, Greg Norman and Nick Price, will also be absent after both failed to qualify.

Norman was a runner-up three times in the tournament and Price, now 49, played in 20 Masters from 1984 to 2005.

Two-time winner Seve Ballesteros decided not to play because of lack of preparation.