Ogilvy doesn't fear Tiger

Tournament second-favourite Geoff Ogilvy has declared that he's no longer intimidated by world No.1 Tiger Woods and would relish a head-to-head battle for the Australian Masters yellow jacket down the home stretch at Kingston Heath on Sunday.

Ogilvy, who finished in a tie for 10th just two shots behind Woods at last week's HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai, admits to being 'freaked out' the first time he played alongside the likes of Woods and Greg Norman.

But the 32-year-old has said that he's no longer dazzled by the aura of the 14-time major winner and believes he's 'well-equipped' to handle the best that Woods can muster at the 'Heath'.

"He's intimidating at first, but not anymore," said Ogilvy.

"He's basically my age and we're into the same sort of stuff, and when you all of a sudden realise that he's just like you but better at the thing that you do, the intimidation goes away."

"The small amount of intimidation that he does carry is that you know on the last nine holes he's going to hit good shots."

"You assume that other people are going to play well over the last nine holes, but you know he is going to play well and that's the intimidating thing, I think, because that makes you feel like you have to play well and that's a difficult state of mind to be in."

"I quite enjoy playing with him now - it's more about all the rubbish that goes on around him that's intimidating."

Ogilvy said that while he expects that Woods, who completed the front nine in Wednesday's pro-am five-under par and whose foursome won the teams competition, would quickly come to terms with the 6455-metre, par-72 layout, ultimately, Kingston Heath is unchartered territory for the $2.50 tournament favourite.

For all his craft, power, nous and talent, Woods lacks the local knowledge and special incentive to win at 'home' that will drive many of his rivals this week.

"It does seem that way, that everyone's given him the tournament already, but that happens very regularly," said Ogilvy.

"He is perhaps the best of all-time and a master of working out new styles of golf which this is going to be for him."

"He's always clearly the favourite going into any golf tournament he ever plays and he's clearly the favourite here, but the clear favourite doesn't always win."

"There's quite a few local guys who have played this style of golf more often and know this golf course a little bit better and sometimes for an Australian especially - like there is for an American at the US Open - the local guys have that added emotional home tournament drive to win it."

"So he's up against it this week to win."

Ogilvy said he gained plenty of confidence from his strong finish in Shanghai last week and believes he's well-placed to add a third title to the Mercedes Benz Championship and World Matchplay events he's won already in 2009.

"If I play like I can like I did at the weekend, there's no reason why I shouldn't be in amongst the thing on Sunday," said Ogilvy.

"You can't control what everyone else does, but I know if I play well I'll be there or thereabouts and that's all I really want every week, just to have a chance."

"This would be a fun one to have a chance because obviously Tiger's most likely going to be up on top of the leaderboard along with a bunch of other good Australians and it's always fun, especially in Melbourne."