Tiger Woods is gunning for a Grand Slam in 2008. (Getty Images)

It doesn't matter that he's never come from behind. Or that he'll start Masters Sunday six shots back. Or that his game has been far from perfect this week.

When they look up at the leader board they'll all see just one name -- Tiger Woods.

And they won't be able to put him out of their heads.

"When I figure out how to do that, I think I'll be able to charge some guys out here and figure out get them to pay me . . .'' said Brandt Snedeker.

Trevor Immelman's ball nearly found the water on the 15th hole on Saturday. (Getty Images)

The Masters

Full coverage Round 4 Tee Times Leaderboard Running Round 3 Notebook More notes Tiger back after a 68 Phil slips with a 75 Video: Immelman's post-round interview Video: Casey's post-round interview Video: Snedeker's post-round interview Video: PGA TOUR Today Podcast: Round 3

"If he gets off to a great start tomorrow it's going to be in everybody's head. And that's something, as long as we acknowledge it and know it and try to counteract it and realize, hey, he is not going to be a factor in the next golf shot that I hit, you've got a chance of overcoming it.

"But to sit here and say we are not going to be thinking about Tiger Woods tomorrow is crazy because we are, just like everybody else in this room is and just like everybody else in this world is.

"We're human, what can we say?"

Indeed.

Trevor Immelman is playing out of his mind. Snedeker is a chipmunk, chirping his way around Augusta National, living and loving every shot he hits. Steve Flesch. Paul Casey and Stewart Cink are looking to take the next step. Zach Johnson, Boo Weekly and Padraig Harrington are looking for miracles.

And Tiger? He's taking dead aim.

His mantra Friday night was patience, and Saturday, he was Job. He didn't let those mindboggling Augusta misses complicate his day. He threw out the day's best round of 68 -- one matched by Johnson and Harrington -- and got them all thinking. And remembering.

And pondering. What's next?

"You know, you can't get too caught up in it out here,'' Flesch said. "You know, there's that Woods' guy (and) everybody is always looking. I was looking because I was curious like everyone else, what did Tiger shoot today?''

A 68 that could have been a 66. And, oh, himself right back into the tournament.

"This is the highest score I could have shot today,'' Tiger said. "I hit the ball so well and I hit so many good putts that just skirted the hole.''

And, yes, that is cause for the field to worry.

Immelman has played flawlessly for three days. The 28-year-old South African has put the viral infection he contracted here last year and surgery to remove a benign mass behind him.

He's mastering a course where he surprised everyone with a tie for fifth behind Tiger in 2005. He's taken control of a tournament with two amazing 68s and followed it with a pressure-packed 69.

He's two shots clear of fast-talking Snedeker, three ahead of Flesch and four up on Casey.

He even hit the shot of the day and had everyone -- for at least a few minutes -- thinking fate when his approach at 15 spun back, headed for the water and found the one flat spot on a shaved bank.

It was shades of Fred Couples' velcro tee shot at the 12th in the final round in 1992. A little déjà vu.

"I was at home in South Africa watching it,'' he said. "I remember the shot he hit, hung up and hit a great little chip and made his par there.

Brandt Snedeker finds himself in the final group at a major championship. (Getty Images)

"You know though, there's a massive difference. This is the 15th hole of the third round and his was the 12th hole of the final round. I was extremely fortunate that my ball stayed up there but there's still a long way to go in this tournament."'

No one knows that better than Immelman who held Tiger off at the 2006 Cialis Western Open. But even then, he got a bit lucky. Woods found his swing Thursday night, finished second, then went on a tear. As in seven straight wins, including the British Open and the PGA.

"You know, he's the best player in the world by a long, long way,'' Casey said. "You know, are we scared of him? I don't know if we're scared of him; he's just so good. He doesn't make mistakes. You know, he is the one to be very wary of.''

Especially here. It's an uber course made for him, just as it's smaller self was once made for Jack Nicklaus.

Tiger understands Augusta National the way Jack did. He's not afraid of her challenges. Or her winds. He thrives on them. The harder, the better.

Which is why he's a presence here like no other.

"And as he moves up and he plays great golf, it's just very difficult to press on a golf course such as this and to stay in front or to chase him,'' Casey said.

"So I don't think it's a case of guys quaking in their boots. It's just they are not as good as he is.''

Trust us. No one is going to hand this Masters to him. He's going to have to take it. And, he's going to have to come from behind for the first time to do it.

Tiger had the lead briefly last year and finished second. And, yes, that's on his mind.

We know how he handles major Sundays. We watched him run away with his first Masters on another April 13th -- back in 1997.

So, yes, he'll be on their minds.

"All I can ask for myself is to go out there and you know, play as hard as I can and believe in myself,'' Immelman said. "I've got to believe in myself tomorrow, and hope for the best.''

And hope, too, that this won't be the year Tiger puts an end to what's become an infernal 0-fer streak and finally comes from behind.