Tiger Woods may only be at the beginning of a long road back to global dominance following his high-profile marriage breakdown last year, but he insists he's bounced back from bigger winless streaks than this in the past and can do it again.
Woods, who hasn't won a tournament since 2009, told a pre-Desert Classic conference yesterday: "I've been through this period before. People forget I went from 1997 to 1999 with only one win. I went through a two-year period. But from 1999 through to 2001 I had a pretty good run. So it's not like I haven't been here before. I've been through stretches like this."
The 35-year-old from Cypress, California, who aims to equal Ernie Els' hat-trick of Desert Classic titles with a first comeback victory this weekend, said of his game: "It's progressing. I'm putting the pieces back together and working on some things, sticking with the game plan and just trying to get better each and every week."
Of the goal this weekend Woods added: "It's the same. That's why I tee-up. If I'm in the event it's to win. That's just plain and simple. I don't always win. I've certainly lost a lot more tournaments than I've won. But it's the goal every week you tee it up and that doesn't change."
Acknowledging his slip to third in the world rankings behind Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer, Woods said of an expected return up the tables. "I think it's all about playing. If I win golf tournaments all of that (his rank) will take care of itself."
Having detailed a slightly revised daily schedule since the events of last year, Woods said: "I don't practice as much as I used to but that's a good thing. I'm able to spend more quality time with my kids and that's more important than what I do on the golf course.
"I feel good. I feel happy and certainly balanced and that's a good thing. We are always trying to find that right balance as athletes and as a person you're trying to do that as well. I'm the same as everybody else."
Of his Torrey Pines appearance, which kicked-off his 2011, Woods, who's now made some major adjustments to his swing, said: "Good things happened at the last event I played in and it's nice to have some things that showed up that I had not had in practice. So we were able to identify that, work on it and I feel a lot more comfortable coming in this week.
"I feel I can still win golf tournaments. I'm not that old. I figure I've still got some years ahead of me."
Asked if he can dominate once more, Woods said: "It's not about that. It's about me trying to get to where I want to get to and the efficiency that I know I can play the game at. If it's by me winning tournaments or not we'll see what happens. But the whole idea is I know what I can do on the golf course and hopefully I'll be able to do that going forward."
Woods joked of reclaiming his grip on world golf: "If I can win the same four tournaments every year and four big ones, I think I'll be alright."
Of the fact he's found success on this course twice previously in 2006 and 2008, Woods added: "It's been a lot of fun to come over here. I enjoy the golf course. I've had a little bit of success on it and I'm looking forward to getting out there and playing this week."
CLASSIC FACTS
- First played: 1989
- Most wins: Ernie Els, 1994, 2002, 2005
- Consecutive wins: None
- Youngest winner: Rory McIlroy, 19 years and 273 days (in 2009)
- Oldest winner: Mark O'Meara, 47 and 54 days (in 2004)
ROLL OF HONOUR
- 1989: Mark James
- 1990: Eamonn Darcy
- 1992: Seve Ballesteros
- 1993: Wayne Westner
- 1994: Ernie Els
- 1995: Fred Couples
- 1996: Colin Montgomerie
- 1997: Richard Green
- 1998: Jose Maria Olazabal
- 1999: David Howell
- 2000: Jose Coceres
- 2001: Thomas Bjorn
- 2002: Ernie Els
- 2003: Robert Jan Derksen
- 2004: Mark O'Meara
- 2005: Ernie Els
- 2006: Tiger Woods
- 2007: Henrik Stenson
- 2008: Tiger Woods
- 2009: Rory McIlroy
- 2010: Miguel Angel Jimenez
PROJECTIONS
- Kaymer wins he's world No 1 unless Lee Westwood is second alone.
- Kaymer second alone he's world No 1 if Westwood is out of Top 10
- Kaymer second with one other he's world No 1 if Westwood is out of Top 36
- Otherwise Westwood stays at world No 1 spot.
- Tiger Woods could pass Kaymer and go back to World No 2 if:
- He wins and Kaymer is outside the Top Five.
PROFILES
Colin Montgomerie
- Turned Pro 1987
- Pro wins 40
- Majors 0
- Age 47
Mark O'Meara
- Turned Pro 1980
- Pro wins 34
- Majors 2
- Age 54
Miguel Angel Jimenez
- Turned Pro 1982
- Pro wins 21
- Majors 0
- Age 47
Martin kaymer
- Turned Pro 2005
- Pro wins 17
- Majors 1
- Age 26
Lee Westwood
- Turned Pro 1993
- Pro wins 33
- Majors 0
- Age 37
Tiger Woods
- Turned Pro 1996
- Pro wins 97
- Majors 14
- Age 35
