Rory McIlroy believes almost three-quarters of the 97-strong field can win the Masters Tournament, while Justin Rose neatly summed up an unpredictable season so far.
"I think if you're outside the top 50 in the world this week, you've got a great chance," Rose said, a tongue-in-cheek reference to some of the lesser-known winners of big events in 2014.
But when the 78th Masters gets under way tomorrow at Augusta National, statistics suggest the cream will again rise to the top.
Since Darren Clarke and Keegan Bradley won the last two majors of 2011 when ranked 111th and 108th in the world respectively, the lowest ranked winner of a major has been Ernie Els, who was 40th when he won the 2012 Open at Lytham.
Last year, Adam Scott was ranked seventh when he won the Masters, Rose fifth before his US Open triumph at Merion and Phil Mickelson also fifth before his Open victory at Muirfield. Jason Dufner was 21st when he won the US PGA Championship at Oak Hill.
The list of winners on the PGA Tour this season does not have such a familiar ring to it, with the likes of Matt Every, Steven Bowditch, Matt Jones, Scott Stallings and Russell Henley all tasting victory.
Former Masters champion Zach Johnson is the only member of the world's top 10 to have won a strokeplay tournament in 2014, with world number four Jason Day out of action with a thumb injury since his victory in the WGC-Accenture Match Play.
The quality of the 24 rookies - the most since 1935 - in the field also cannot be overlooked, with Joost Luiten, Victor Dubuisso, Stephen Gallacher, Jonas Blixt and Branden de Jogne among those aiming to become the first player to win a green jacket on their Masters debut since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979.
But Rose believes the unique challenges of Augusta National mean that McIlroy's estimate of 70 potential winners is way too high.
"I think Augusta is different," said Rose, who was fifth here in 2007 and has led at some point during every round without leading when it really matters.
"There's so much course knowledge that you build up through the years that definitely swings the pendulum in the favour of the more experienced player.
"I would say 15 guys separate themselves a lot from the field. Always you can have the unknowns that can happen, but I would say 15 guys are pretty strong favourites."
Rose includes himself, McIlroy, Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter in that 15, which is good news for those hoping for an end to a 15-year European victory drought in a major championship which had previously provided a rich seam of success.
European players recorded eight wins between 1988 and 1999 and seven out of nine from Sandy Lyle's triumph in 1988 to Nick Faldo's third title in 1996.
However, the last continental player to don the famous green jacket remains Jose Maria Olazabal in 1999, despite Luke Donald, Westwood, Martin Kaymer and McIlroy all being world number one at some point since October 2010.
Henrik Stenson can become the latest European player to top the rankings by finishing second or better on Sunday - Scott and Jason Day can also claim top spot - while McIlroy is rated the tournament favourite despite a best finish of 15th in five previous Masters appearances.
That came when he held a four-shot lead heading into the final round before collapsing to a closing 80, but the former world number one believes there will be no excuses if he does put himself into contention come the back nine on Sunday.
"I certainly feel comfortable on the golf course here," the 24-year-old McIlroy said. "There's a lot of guys that seems like once they drive up Magnolia Lane, something sort of lights up inside them.
"I'm disappointed that my best finish was only 15th. I feel like I've played better than that and haven't quite got the results. Hopefully I can change that this week."
At least one omen is in McIlroy's favour, with Irish golfers winning the last four major championships that Woods has missed through injury; Padraig Harrington won the Open and US PGA in 2008, McIlroy claimed the 2011 US Open and Darren Clarke won the Open at Sandwich a month later.
Whether McIlroy, Clarke or Graeme McDowell can continue that remarkable streak remains to be seen, but one thing is certain.
"This event produces something special no matter what," defending champion Scott said. "It's not going to involve Tiger this year, but it will involve someone else and it will be a memorable event anyway."
