Mike Aitken's Augusta blog: Masters course all set up for a thrilling Sunday finish

Augusta, Sunday, 1430hrs

TIGER Woods thinks Augusta National has filched a plot from Robert Louis Stevenson. Like Dr Jekyll transforming into Mr Hyde, the world No 1 reckons, as a test of golf, the Masters has turned into the US Open.

Although this year's tournament has been far brighter and more compelling than the gloomy staging of the event in 2007 when miserable weather was to blame – the leading score after 54 holes is 11 under par, the winner last spring signed for three over - it's undeniable the season's first major is a quieter affair than it used to be.

Sandy Lyle, who tees off first today, played with Jack Nicklaus when the game's greatest player became the oldest golfer to win the Masters in 1986. The uproar which greeted the Golden Bear as he swept round Amen Corner was like nothing the Scot has heard before or since. Having established a reputation for excitement, the Masters became more of a slog than a celebration.

While it's true the ebullience of Brandt Snedeker, golf's Huckleberry Finn, Ian Poulter's hole in one on Thursday and Retief Goosen's brace of eagles at the 13th on Friday and Saturday have all raised the roof, the 2008 tournament has burned on a long fuse. Still, the back nine at Augusta on Sunday afternoon remains one of sport's unmissable occasions. And the good news is the course set-up is expected to encourage a return to the good old days.

Thankfully, the powers that be at Augusta National still retain an understanding that the wider TV audience around the world love the tournament because of the thrills generated on Sunday afternoon. That's why the balance between opportunity and complexity is more finely honed today than during the previous three rounds.

For the world's leading professionals, the location of the tees and pin positions on a golf course play a big part in influencing their strategies. If the tees are moved up a little and the flags are accessible, the chances are the number of birdies and eagles will increase.

A year ago, even though the stroke average was over par, the lowest scores of the week came on the final day. There were ten eagles on Sunday in 2007, more than twice the number in the three previous rounds.

According to Billy Payne, the chairman of Augusta National, this is the way it's always been done here. "We want it to be exciting over the week-end," he said. "That's the way we set up the golf course. That's the way we've always done it. And that's the way we're going to continue to do it."

On the other hand, the 'X factor' in how the final round unfolds, will be the weather. After rain softened the course and lowered scores on Saturday, today the wind is expected to whip up in the afternoon. At 9am here this morning, the sky was clear, watery sunshine sparkled on the azaleas and there was barely a flutter of breeze in the pines.

If accurate, the forecast for winds gusting between 19 and 22 mph will add an element of lottery to the mix. Unlike on a links, where wind is an integral part of the test, a course where the greens are as quick as the putting surfaces at Augusta can be transformed by even a little breeze.

In 2002, when he was already halfway to the Grand Slam, Tiger was blown off course in the Open by a storm at Muirfield which saw the world No 1 card 81. Surrounded by enormous hype over the prospect of winning all four majors in a single season before a ball was even struck this year, it will be intriguing to discover if the breeze is Woods' friend or enemy.

At five under for the tournament, six strokes behind third round leader Trevor Immelman, Tiger's season is blowing in the wind today.