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By John Reger PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer
LA JOLLA, California (Ticker) -- The broken record that is Tiger Woods'
victory streak at Torrey Pines may add a few more hits this year.
The Torrey Pines Golf Club also is the site of the U.S. Open and many
believe the engraver can get an early start putting Woods' name on the
trophy. If you go by his record at the famous South Course, you may
wonder why the USGA is even going to stage the nation's championship.
It might be more efficient to just go right to the trophy presentation and let people enjoy the view of the Pacific Ocean.
Woods enters his season opener in search of a "fourpeat" at the $5.2
million Buick Invitational, which begins Thursday. He also will return
here in June looking to win the year's second major.
Woods spent the last five weeks enjoying life off the golf course and
mentally preparing for what could be his best season of his career.
"I feel good, the break was nice," Woods said. "It was nice to get away
from it for a little bit, and to practice and play and stay at home for
a little bit was kind of nice. Usually during that period I'm always
overseas, so it was a little different. It was nice to be at home with
(wife) Elin and (daughter) Sam and to have fun."
Now, though he returns to work and comes with a focus and a goal of
winning the Grand Slam. He held all four major championships at one
time, winning the U.S. Open, the British Open and the PGA Championship
in 2000, then winning the Masters in 2001. Now he would like to win all
in the same calendar year.
"A couple years ago I came within four shots of at least being in a
playoff ... winning or being in a playoff on all four, so yeah, I think
it is possible," Woods said. "It would be nice. It would be doing it a
different way than I had done before. Hopefully I get it done."
The U.S. Open at least looks like a lock. His success in the Buick
Invitational and Torrey Pines South Course is unmatched. He has won the
event five of the 10 times he has played, including three in a row and
four of the last five. His worst finish here is a tie for 10th in 2004
and his other finishes were a tie for second, tie for third, fourth and
a tie for fifth.
That doesn't count the times he came down as a youngster and won the prestigious Junior World events.
"I've played when it was burnt out, bone dry, fog delays," Woods said.
"I was telling (his coach) Hank (Haney), we were yelling out on the
first tee, `All clear on the No. 1 fairway,' that kind of thing, and
keep playing. I've seen what can happen here that time of year, and I
do feel comfortable on this golf course. It's a matter of having my
game show up at the right time. You've got to make sure it peaks at
that time."
As if he needed another advantage, the course was redesigned by Rees
Jones in 2001 and now it is not only longer, but requires a certain
amount of shotmaking, two areas Woods excels at.
"When the greens get firm like they did the first year of the redesign,
that's when you had to truly shot-make," Woods said. "That's very
similar to what we're going to have to do during the U.S. Open. You
have to be able to move the golf ball, be able to place it, lag putt
really well. I think that shot-making is now more apparent. You have to
do it more here now with the redesign than you did before. Before it
was just a driver out there, a 9-iron or a wedge at every flag and try
to shoot 20-plus under par. It's not going to happen."
Longtime friend Mark O'Meara, who is also playing this week, sees Woods' advantages at Torrey Pines.
"I think out here he just has obviously a very calm, collective,
easy-going feeling about the success that he's had on this golf
course," O'Meara said. "When you've played a course as many times as
Tiger has played here at Torrey and had the results that he's had, he
can't help but feel confident when he's over the ball, and I know he's
been playing well at home. He'll play well here and he'll play well in
the Open for sure."
One player who will be trying to prevent that is Phil Mickelson. The
San Diego native, who owns a home near Torrey Pines, doesn't seem as
sold on Woods winning all four majors.
"Well, he's obviously a very confident player and he should be,"
Mickelson said. "He's won countless events and double-digit majors. So
he should be confident. I think that this year I should be able to put
myself in contention, as well, and I look forward to the opportunity to
compete against him."
It's not like Woods needs any more motivation, but winning all four
majors would give him something that not even his idol, Jack Nicklaus
did.
"For most of my career I've won more than four tournaments per year,
and all I have to do is win the right four, and I've done those a few
times," Woods said. "I think if you put it all together, have luck on
your side, all the stars will line up, and it certainly is possible."
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