Tiger Talks Perfection

By Andrew Both
SportsTicker Golf Writer

MARANA, Arizona (Ticker) -- Tiger Woods says he has the "intent" to win every tournament he plays this year. Any other golfer saying that would provoke outright laughter. But when it's Woods, one has to wonder whether such an inconceivable achievement is indeed possible. Of course, the odds of doing so remain astronomical. But seven victories in his past eight official starts gives Woods reason to believe that such a feat is not completely out of the question.

Woods says he is playing the best golf of his life after spending the offseason working on his short game. It was hard to argue after watching him post 14 birdies in 29 holes in Sunday's final of the $8 million Accenture Match Play Championship at Dove Mountain. The world No. 1, Woods posted the largest margin of victory in the event's championship match, an 8 and 7 thrashing of fellow American Stewart Cink, who essentially was reduced to the role of an admiring fan. "(Woods) is just always in control," Cink said. "He gets mad, but he never loses his composure. He always stays very poised and he doesn't often throw away a shot. "He's a lot better now than he's ever been at that. He's really learned how to stay within himself. He regulates his heartbeat. I think we ought to slice him open and see what's inside - maybe nuts and bolts."

Woods won nine times on the PGA Tour in 2000, including a 15-stroke victory at the U.S. Open and an eight-stroke rout at the British Open. But Cink thinks Woods' current form is as good as, if not better than, last year. "It's hard to say that right now is not as good as that was," Cink said. "You just don't see very much sloppiness out there. Just about any stat you pull up says that he's the best that ever played."

At 32, Woods should be entering the prime of his career, which is quite something when one considers he already has won 13 majors and 63 PGA Tour events, fourth on the all-time list behind Sam Snead (82), Jack Nicklaus (73) and Ben Hogan (64). Those 63 victories include 15 World Golf Championships titles in 26 starts.

Woods makes no secret that he is after the Grand Slam of all four majors this year. And is there anyone who really believes he doesn't have a chance? "This is certainly the best stretch I think I've ever played," he said. "I just have a better understanding of how to play the game, how to fix my game, and have a lot more shots than I've ever had. "I worked on my short game pretty hard this winter. I didn't like what I was feeling at the end of last year, even though I was winning tournaments. You can always get better."