In an attempt to equal out the field at the Masters this year, PGA superstar Tiger Woods has decided to play the tournament without a head.

How Woods will actually play without a head was never clarified, but he and his caddie assured the media that he can do it without any problem.

In a press-conference Wednesday, a headless Woods could only put his arms in the air and shrug, while his caddie discussed the big news.

“With all the talk of Tiger being the favorite every week, he decided it would be fair to remove his head to play this Masters,” Steve Williams, Woods’ caddie, said. “He feels his chances are still good, as long as Phil Mickelson keeps five-putting every week.”

Woods, though no longer the heavy favorite to win the major, is still picked by most to win, retaining the green jacket he won last year.

“The first time he won it in 1997 was so dominating and last year he said he didn’t have any trouble pulling it out, so he wanted to try something new,” Williams said. “The truth is, he is sick and tired of kicking the crap out of everybody every time he sets foot at a major.”

When asked how the hell he will be able to aim at his targets, Woods admitted to getting some help from his caddie, but also said he knows Augusta National well enough that he shouldn’t have any problems – except for when he has to cross the famous stone bridge at the 12th hole.

Woods played a headless practice round on Wednesday, and though no official score was kept, many onlookers said he shot somewhere around six-under par.

“It took about a hole to get the feel of playing without a head,” Woods said, appearing with his head in tact after the round. “After that, I just brought my `A’ game and went from there.”

This year’s Masters has also made the news as course officials have added nearly 300 yards in length to the course, for what many feel is in effort to make the course Tiger-proof.

Woods’ reaction to the length affecting his headless play was simple and to the point.

“I’m Tiger freaking Woods,” he said.

News of Woods playing without a head has garnered mixed reactions from golfers around the tour.

David Duval, one of Woods’ most competitive counterparts, is worried what will happen to TV ratings for the tournament.

“The people at home won’t be able to see the whiney look on his face when he hits a bad shot,” Duval said Wednesday. “And that big cheesy smile that has won over so many fans, we won’t get to see that either.”

Duval, who has been dominated and embarrassed by Woods in the past, doesn’t see his chances improving any with Woods playing headless.

“I will always be playing in Tiger’s shadow,” Duval admitted, “whether the shadow has a head or not.”

Another top pick for the Masters, Phil Mickelson, said he isn’t even going to think about what is happening with Woods, but rather worry about his own problems.

“My mind game is so screwed up right now, I’ll be lucky if I don’t whiff a putt,” Michelson said. “The fact that everyone can’t stop talking about me never winning a major has freaked me out to the point that I haven’t slept in three months.”

Jack Nicklaus, the famed senior golfer who won’t be playing in this year’s Masters, thinks playing headless is a good idea for Woods.

“Hopefully this will slow him down from destroying all the records I set in my prime,” Nicklaus said. “I should have tried playing headless back in the day, but I suck so bad now I don’t think I will ever give it a try.”

Though it is not certain just how Woods is able to function without his head, it is almost certain that his name will be atop the leader board come Sunday of the Masters.

“I just wanted to prove that I can win under any circumstance,” Woods said. “If this is successful, I will probably quit golf and attempt playing headless baseball.”

Kyle Moss is a junior in journalism and mass communication from Urbandale.