Ogilvy upbeat over Augusta prospects

Geoff Ogilvy is confident he has the game to create history at Augusta National next month, as long as he can dodge the "train wrecks" that derailed him last year.

A day after ending world No.1 Tiger Woods' remarkable seven tournament winning streak, the 30-year-old Victorian turned his attention to becoming the first Australian to pull on the Masters green jacket.

Ogilvy revealed he left Augusta 12 months ago with very positive vibes despite falling out of contention to finish tied 24th.

"I had a couple of train wrecks and I still wasn't that far away, so I walked away thinking Augusta was a place I could do really well if I returned with the right game," said Ogilvy in a teleconference from the US.

No one doubts Ogilvy has his game is on song less than three weeks out from the Masters after he overcame the world's best players to win the World Golf Championships event in Florida.

He showed the sort of mental toughness needed to add the Masters to his 2006 US Open major title after a gruelling ordeal as leader in the weather-hit event when he had to return on Monday but ground out the remaining nine holes in straight pars for a one-shot victory.

He went 60 holes around Doral's daunting Blue Monster course before making a bogey.

"That's a first," he said. "I don't think I've ever gone remotely that far without a bogey, I don't really have an explanation for it."

After several cracks at Augusta, Ogilvy believes he knows and has what it takes to win, despite the double water disaster which gave him a third round 81 last year.

"I think I led the field in birdies, there was a lot of good stuff and a little bit of bad stuff," he said.

"I tripled the second hole on the Thursday and on the Saturday I was two shots behind the lead with 22 holes to go in a perfect position.

"I hit two balls in the water at the 15th and made nine. We've all watched it on TV, everybody's done it, it's an easy thing to do.

"They're the things that kill you."

It also helps to keep the ball on the right side of the green and under the hole.

"Above the hole is a horrible place to be," he said.

"You can be five metres on the wrong side of the hole at Augusta and you're working out how to get your chip shot on the green.

"You can be 50 yards on the correct side and have quite and easy up and down.

"It's about keeping your ball underneath the hole, staying out of trouble, away from big numbers and taking your chances when you get them."

A World Golf Championship will shoot any player up the rankings but Ogilvy isn't convinced his move back into the world's top 10 means he's in the very top echelon yet.

"We know Tiger is head and shoulders above everybody else and (Phil) Michelson has solidified himself at number two.

"Then there's Adam (Scott), Jim Furyk, Ernie Els and Steve Stricker who's been playing great and Retief Goosen who's started playing well again and Garcia and Harrington and those guys.

"I sit somewhere around those guys, I don't think I'm quite as consistent as those guys but I think when I'm playing well I'm a match for most of them."</p>