AUGUSTA – There’s a fascinating balance teetering between awe and jealousy that permeates the world of golf as it careens toward its most anticipated event in memory.

“It’s all about Tiger Woods right now,” Paul Azinger said on the eve of the Masters.

This is where the captivating thin, gray-area line runs between awe and jealousy.

There are some players who are rooting for Woods to win this week if they cannot do it, because it would give Woods four consecutive major titles and the unprecedented feat of having every Grand Slam trophy on his coffee table at the same time.

Then there are those who don’t want any part of Woods making more history, because they understandably want their own moment in the shining spotlight.

As an example of the overwhelming amount of eyeballs that are focusing on Woods, defending Masters champion Vijay Singh is a mere afterthought.

“I don’t think [Singh] got enough credit for how he played here last year,” Davis Love III said. “But you know, a lot of great golf has been kind of overshadowed in the last couple of years. A lot of great accomplishments and great shots hit haven’t been talked about that much.

“There’s a lot of guys out here playing some really good golf, but people don’t realize how good they’re playing.”

A read between the lines of Love’s words well displays the balance between envy and resentment with regard to Woods.

“Sometimes it takes extraordinary golf to win a major,” said Love, whose sole major title is the 1997 PGA at Winged Foot. “In the last three years you’ve seen one player play extremely well in a lot of them. It’s hard to get your turn when a guy is on a roll like that.”

That “guy” is, of course, Woods, who’s won the last three majors and four of the last five dating back to the 1999 PGA Championship at Medinah.

“There’s a lot of talk about [Woods] winning all four [majors], but I’m not here to stop Tiger from winning, I am here to win myself,” Singh said. “My whole focus is on me, not anybody else. I’m not going to try to prevent him from winning his fourth in a row. That is not my goal this week. I want to win for myself.”

When Singh was reminded that only two players have ever successfully defended their Masters titles (Nick Faldo in 1989-90 and Jack Nicklaus in 1965-66), he smiled.

“I’m aware of that,” he said. “I’ve been thinking about it for a while, and I’d like to put that Green Jacket on myself again. I’m feeling good. I’m happier this year than I was last year. I’m swinging the club real good. I feel comfortable with myself. At this moment, my golf game is probably the best it has ever been.

“I’ve looked forward to this week for a long time. Winning once was great. Doing it twice would be unbelievable. I’m not going to lay down this week.”

Phil Mickelson, who’s still seeking his first major at age 30, joked that he’d “be honored to stop another [Woods] streak,” referring to his ending of Woods’ six-tournament win streak at last year’s Buick Invitational in San Diego.

“I have not felt as though everybody is trying to get together, gang up and beat one guy,” Mickelson said. “That’s certainly not the case. But it’s going to be very difficult to beat Tiger because he seems to be able to bring out his best game when he wants to. He has certainly done that at four of the last five majors, and this golf course sets up very well for him.”

Mickelson is one player who appreciates what Woods’ dominance has done for the game.

“We have all benefited from what he has done,” Mickelson said. “Even though we are not too thrilled with the fact that somebody has won four of the last five [majors], it has brought a lot of attention to the game and we have all benefited indirectly.”

While some players are jealous that they’re not receiving due credit for great play, attention is something that a number of the game’s best players are ecstatic that Woods has taken away from them.

“It’s awesome,” Mickelson said. “I enjoy spending time with my family and being able to do things off the course. Tiger sacrifices a lot. The life that he leads is a very difficult one, and I’ve seen a glimpse or two when I’ve played with him. “

Yesterday, Woods was asked if his game is anywhere close to its peaks of last year.

“It comes in spurts,” he said. “Yeah, I’m pretty close. Hopefully everything will come together.”

If it does, look out. A peaking Woods on this course equals his record-setting performance in his 18-under 1997 win.