(CNN) -- For the first time since his sensational winning debut in 1997, Tiger Woods is not the favorite to win the Masters this week.
But despite the smart money being on his great rival, three-time Augusta champion Phil Mickelson, the American has been talking up his chances of a first tournament victory since November 2009.
Woods has worn the fabled Green Jacket on four occasions, but not since 2005, and victory this Sunday would put him back at golf's summit for the first time since last October.
In fact, five of the world's top seven players have the chance to depose No. 1 Martin Kaymer if they take home the first prize, which was worth $1.35 million to current No. 3 Mickelson last year.
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While Germany's Kaymer has yet to make the cut in three attempts at the season's opening major tournament, Woods tied for fourth last year in his first tournament after a self-imposed exile following revelations about his marital infidelities.
"Last year was last year and this year is this year," seventh-ranked Woods told reporters. "I have the same opportunity as everybody else has, as I said earlier. My main focus is to get ready and be prepared and come the first tee shot, be all cylinders go.
"As far as being a better person, I try to do that each and every day. That will and always will be the case."
The 35-year-old has had just one top-10 finish in four PGA Tour starts this year, at the WGC-Cadillac Championship.
"I believe in myself," the 14-time major winner said. "There's nothing wrong with believing in myself. God, I hope you guys feel the same way about yourselves. You know, that's the whole idea, that you can always become better.
"My whole idea is to try to win the golf tournament, and that's what I'm trying to do. My whole idea is to prepare. I've prepared all year to peak four times a year and that has not changed, and that's what I'm trying to do."
Woods will play with U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell and Australia's Robert Allenby in the opening rounds on Thursday and Friday.
World No. 5 McDowell has made the weekend cut at Augusta only once, in 2009 when he finished 17th after being paired with Woods in the third round -- shooting 73 to the then-No. 1's 70.
"Once you get used to the whole buzz that surrounds him, especially inside the ropes, once you get your head around that, it's pretty normal," the Northern Irishman said.
"I would have been intimidated a couple of years ago, but nowadays it's reasonably normal. I was expecting to get a draw somewhere along those lines this week."
Mickelson is favored to claim a fourth title following Sunday's win at the Houston Open, having added events to his Augusta build-up when his form fell away after a second-placing at the Farmers Insurance Open in January.
"It was a big confidence booster. I felt like that golf was in me this year, but I hadn't been getting it out. I haven't had the same type of mental focus throughout the round that I expect," the 40-year-old said.
"So to have that type of performance heading into here feels very good, it reminds me a lot of 2006 when I was able to put it together the week before and carry the momentum through."
Kaymer, who won his first major last season at the PGA Championship, has held top spot for six weeks since reaching the final of the World Match Play.
He admits he is still coming to terms with the awe-inspiring course at Augusta.
"I didn't really believe it when I came here the first couple of times but a lot of people said you had to come here many, many times to see it and get used to it and every time you play you will see something different. And it's true," the 26-year-old said.
"That's the only difference: that you know that you have done well somewhere before. And I haven't done well here. But you know, there's always a first time."
