Tiger Woods and many of his top rivals will still be on vacation when the US PGA Tour season begins in Kapalua, Hawaii, on Thursday, but the golf world in 2006 will still revolve around the 10-time major champion.
World number one Woods, who turned 30 last Friday, has won 46 tournaments in nine and a half years on the PGA Tour and has a solid chance to threaten the career marks of 18 majors set by Jack Nicklaus and 82 victories achieved by Sam Snead.
”If he stays healthy I believe some of his best golf is ahead of him,” said Woods’ friend and neighbour Mark O’Meara.
”He believes he is going to become a better player. Who is to say this isn’t just the beginning.
”When he starts to harness that power like I’ve seen him do it’s game over.”
Woods won seven titles last year, including the Masters and British Opens, and played special events the past two months, prompting him to take a six-week holiday break that will not end until he plays in the final event of January.
Woods, reigning PGA Championship winner Phil Mickelson, Ireland’s Padraig Harrington and South Africa’s Retief Goosen will skip the opening tournament of 2005 champions event here, the $5,3-million Mercedes Championships.
”I hate skipping the Mercedes,” Woods said. ”But I played a full schedule and never took an extended break. I need some time to recharge my batteries, let my body heal and hang out with family and friends.”
With one more major title, Woods will equal Walter Hagen for second on the all-time list, although Hagen’s total came in an era before the Masters even existed. Then Woods can take aim at Nicklaus and his 18 majors.
”If I play the way I know I can play, I think I can get there,” Woods said.
Hank Haney, Woods’ swing coach, warned against putting any timetable on Woods’ quest.
”Obviously he’s gotten to this point very quickly, but they are a long way off,” Haney said.
”I don’t think you can just use a formula to say, ‘OK, by this point down the road he’ll be there.”’
Woods will return at the Buick Invitational January 26-29 near San Diego, then play at the Dubai Desert Classic in early February, part of what could be a personal record six tournament appearances in one year beyond North America.
His global schedule for 2006 includes title defences at the British Open in July, Dunlop Phoenix in Japan in November and the World Golf Championships American Express event in England in September a week after the Ryder Cup.
Woods has said he probably would play in November at a Shanghai event and might compete in the World Match Play event in England in mid-September before the US and European teams play for the Ryder Cup at the K Club in Ireland.
Woods won more titles in his 20s than all but six players have won in their entire careers. Nicklaus won 43 of 73 career titles after his 30th birthday and the ”Golden Bear” claimed six majors beyond his 35th birthday.
”The 20s have certainly been better than I thought they could ever be,” Woods said.
”I have always thought that a golfer’s peak years are in their 30s, and hopefully that will be the same for me.
”It’s just maturity. The things that used to worry me don’t worry me. Things I thought were important really aren’t. You’ve just got a better grasp.
”I’ve got a lot of great things I’ve been working on and I see my best golf being in the future, not the past.”
The golfer who might rival Woods for attention most often in 2006 is Michelle Wie, the teen prodigy who turned professional last year and has shined in women’s events and held her own against men in PGA sponsor exemption starts.
”Most people recognize Michelle as having the physical skills to compete at this level if her game matures as she matures,” US PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem told USA Today.
”For now, I think everyone should relax and enjoy watching her try to achieve her goal, which is to make it on the PGA Tour. It will be interesting to see if she can.”
Finchem also said he doubts women can play on the PGA Tour regularly.
”I think it’s too difficult. It’s a different type of game,” he said. ”There just aren’t women playing who can compete at this level. Even if they can compete they aren’t going to dominate.”
This marks the final season of the current US PGA scheduling format.
In 2007, the tour shifts to a point system of qualifying that will see a playoff style of qualifying leading up to the season-ending Tour Championship, which will shift from November to September.
Later-season events will be mainly a drama for those struggling to retain their tour playing rights, giving the elite talent a shorter season and more time to rest — something that might have helped the field in Hawaii this week.
Second-ranked Vijay Singh of Fiji is the only top-five player at the event, although he is joined by US Open champion Michael Campbell of New Zealand and two-time defending champion Stuart Appleby of Australia.
Appleby could become the first man to win the event three years in a row since Gene Littler in 1957. – Sapa-AFP