Tiger's on the prowl again

This time last year Woods finished tied 22nd on the same rolling Georgian acres where, seven seasons earlier, he marked his professional debut in major golf by destroying the field to the tune of 12 shots.

Indeed, during 2004, when the other top four players either won or came close in the majors, Woods's best finish was a tie for ninth place in The Open at Royal Troon.

But then, away from the azaleas, the golden bell and the magnolia that paint this place rich with colour, the first shoots of Woods's recovery began to appear.

He won in Japan, freed from the pressures of US and European Tour golf, and he won his own limitedfield-Target Challenge tournament. In the great scheme of professional golf they were not huge triumphs. But, crucially, Woods carried the momentum into 2005.

Already this term he has won Tour strokeplay titles at Torrey Pines and Doral, the latter victory being notable for Woods out-duelling Mickelson down the stretch.

Now he is back at his favourite place of work, and Woods likes what he sees. The course is playing long, and he is bombing it right now. The greens are like oiled panes of glass, and Woods thrives on fast putting surfaces.

His wedging is not bad either, as those watching around the 460 yards par-four ninth green yesterday will confirm after Woods dumped his second shot in the hole for an eagle.

So can he win a fourth green jacket on Sunday? Woods smiled and replied: "I like my chances."

This hungry Tiger is emerging from the woods just as he did towards the tail end of 1999 after Butch Harmon made a first attempt at revamping his swing, resulting in seven major victories from 11 starts.

This time it's the more restrained Hank Haney who has tinkered and tuned golf 's equivalent of a Formula One racer. Woods's swing can still produce swerves, but the driver is back in control.

"Now I know how to fix it," he said. "Before, I knew what I was doing out there on the golf course, but I couldn't quite get myself to trust it.

"Last year was very similar to how I felt in 1998 at the major championships. I felt good, yes, but I didn't feel great going into them."

And now? "Without a doubt, it feels a lot better."

Woods will celebrate his 30th birthday just before the end of the year. Incredibly, he is in his 10th season as a professional.

"It's definitely raced by," he said. "It's hard to believe I've been out here that long. You get to double digits, you've been out here a long time, you're kinda old."

Kinda old enough to start considering a future away from golf. He admitted: "When my best isn't good enough, I'm walking.

"I've won tournaments out there when I wasn't playing my best. But if I play my best and don't win, there's no reason to be out there."

Woods has won 57 of the 210 professional tournaments he has entered, banking £32.5million in prize money alone.

"It's been a lot of fun," he said. "I've had a great grind."

The grind goes on, at least for now. "Certainly, my best years are definitely ahead of me."

And with that, Woods tightened the tension another notch.