ANYONE who finds a green jacket being slipped over their shoulders one Sunday evening in April will testify to having been in a fight; with their long game, with their short game and with the confidence-wrecking putting surfaces which rank among the slipperiest and slopiest in golf.

And that's just for the first 63 holes.

As denizens of Augusta National rarely tire of reminding the rest of us, it's not until the fabled back nine on Sunday that the Masters truly begins to sort the genuine contenders from mere pretenders.

This year, however, a familiar, once-impregnable force has rediscovered the magic of old, toughening the task facing every aspiring major champion who makes their way up Magnolia Lane hoping to follow in the spike marks of Charl Schwartzel 12 months ago.

Tiger Woods is back. And with the unmistakable bang of a five-shot victory in the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill last week which rewound the clock two and a half years to his pre-fire hydrant pomp. The pursuit of Jack Nicklaus' all-time record of 18 major wins – Woods has 14 – is on again and heaven help anyone who tries to eyeball a resurgent Tiger in his favourite playpen this week.

An impressive Masters debut for Martin Laird 12 months ago was crowned by being paired with Woods for the first time. Although they began the final day several shots off the lead and out of the spotlight, Laird believes the experience will serve him well next time he steps out alongside Woods. Doubtless, he would willingly do so again for the closing 18 holes this year, as it seems inconceivable now that Woods will tee it up on Sunday without being in contention to claim his fifth green jacket – but first since 2005.

"Playing with Tiger is different to anything I've encountered before," said Laird. "I thought I handled the situation pretty well, even though I shot 73 compared to his 67."

That "situation" is the inevitable hullabaloo whipped up by Woods' army of followers. These days, only Phil Mickelson comes close to generating the same frenzy of excitement outside the ropes. For the uninitiated paired with them, Augusta can be a lonely place.

"You know the crowds are going to be much bigger, but I don't think anything really prepare you for just how much of a circus it can be," added Laird, the world No.34.

"There are so many people following you, there is always going to be a lot of noise. That's not a complaint on Tiger, because that's nothing he has any control over. But there are just so many things going on, especially around the greens, all of which are potential distractions. You have to work very hard to block everything out and keep focused."

Needing a fast start, Woods made four birdies and an eagle in his first eight holes to reach the turn in 31 shots. With word of 54-hole leader Rory McIlroy's implosion spreading like wildfire, Laird recalls the next two hours with such clarity you can picture the 29-year-old reliving it with his grandchildren in two generations' time.

"There is a 75-yard walk from the ninth green to the 10th tee and the crowds which gathered there last year must have been 12 or 15 deep all the way," he said. "It was like that pretty much through the entire back nine. Coming down 15 and 16, I've never seen galleries as big. It's the best atmosphere I've ever experienced on a golf course. My parents and my wife were following us, but they told me afterwards they hardly saw me hit a shot.

"It's hard to say exactly how much [playing with Woods] affected me, but I'd say it cost me two shots. The positive aspect was I learned that I belong in that company because I actually played pretty well for the most part. To play with Tiger at Augusta is always something I'd wanted to do, but I'd like for it to happen again. As and when it does, I'm sure I will handle the whole situation better.'

Such scenarios can wait. For the first half of this week, Laird's focus is on ensuring his short game is sharp enough to limit the damage of missing Augusta's greens in the wrong spot; and on playing nine holes with 1988 champion Sandy Lyle, one of three Scots, along with Paul Lawrie, in this year's field.

"Everyone remembers how well he [Lyle] has played here in the past. If I can manage nine holes or so with him, I'm sure I'll pick up something which can help me.

"Augusta is one of those courses you never stop learning about. All the guys are constantly asking one another how they play certain holes or shots. We're all trying to figure out the best way to get around what is a very tough course."

That it is. And an even tougher challenge awaits today now the Tiger has rediscovered his roar.