Will this become the Woods-less year?
With plenty of talent coming up through the ranks, but not one person stands out like Tiger
Rory McIlroy cannot remember a time when men's golf has so clearly lacked a dominant figure, or figures, heading into the Masters.
Welcome to the Tiger Woods-less 2014, a year full of those hoping to contend on the PGA Tour rather than one player who expects to win each and every week.
McIlroy, speaking following his pro-am at the Houston Open, said he had not talked with the world's highest-profile golfer since news broke of the back surgery that would keep Woods out of next week's visit to Augusta National.
What Tiger has done for the game of golf is unbelievable. To not have him there at the Masters is not the greatest
McIlroy also said golf overall, not just next week's Masters, was seemingly as wide open as it had been during his time as a pro.
"It's almost like golf is waiting for someone to stamp their authority on the game and be that dominant player," said McIlroy, the former No 1.
Australia's Steven Bowditch earned his first PGA Tour win at last week's Texas Open in San Antonio, becoming the tour's 17th different winner in its last 20 events.
The parity is a far cry from Woods' peak when he won nine events in 2000 and eight in both 1999 and 2006. And Woods isn't alone in his dominance after the turn of the century, with Vijay Singh also winning nine times in 2004.