STARR: It would seem you’re at a critical juncture in your life, professionally and personally.
WOODS: I feel as if my game is progressing and also my life is progressing at a nice rate. I think golfers probably hit their prime somewhere around 30, but some start a little earlier. Hopefully I can be the one who starts a little earlier and ends a little later, too.
Before you proposed to your fiancee, you asked your closest friends what they saw in your relationship. Did they see what you saw?
The same thing, happiness. Any time you see a person smile and it makes you just light up–that’s what you want to hear from your friends.
What made this the right time to take the big step?
I was ready for that type of stuff. She obviously didn’t expect it, which made it more exciting. It’s been a neat experience and one we’re going to enjoy for a little bit.
The modern PGA Tour today is a year-round commitment with tremendous travel and pressures. Any concerns about balancing career and home?
No, there are a lot of players who’ve done it before me. Luckily we get a chance to set our own schedule where most athletes on teams don’t.
Some fans worry that your legendary focus could stray from golf.
Just because we’re engaged doesn’t change anything. She’s still there, she’s my best friend and she travels with me. Obviously the biggest change happens when someone has a child–to get a hold on a proper perspective on what you need to do to have a successful home life as well as a successful course life. That’s probably the ultimate challenge.
Have you given that much thought?
No. [Pauses] Not yet.
Did people talking about your “slump” bother you?
Of course it did. The gentleman who first said it at the U.S. Open basically said it in jest. But the media picked up on it and kind of ran with it. And unfortunately I had to deal with that. I wasn’t in one; the players knew I wasn’t in one. It was a media thing–something to talk about.
Did that make the Player of the Year honors more meaningful this time?
Any time you get the respect of your peers, that is the ultimate compliment. This year they still recognized that I played some very consistent golf.
How important is consistency?
That’s where you want to be. That’s why I made the swing changes in ‘98. That’s why I’ve worked as hard as I have. There’s no greater satisfaction in our sport than winning. And in order to win you have to be consistent. You have to keep putting yourself up there. The more times up there, the odds are in your favor that you’re going to get it done.
What is your epitaph for 2003?
It was a successful year. Coming off of knee surgery last year, I would have been happy with one win. When I was practicing back in January [for] my comeback and Ernie [Els] was winning every week and shooting 30 under par, it was frustrating ’ cause I knew I couldn’t compete. When I got back, I had to get over that mental hurdle of knowing my knee was solid, to go ahead and trust it. That was the hardest part.
How do you feel about the way TV ratings plummet when you skip an event or fall out of contention?
It’s disappointing that the fans some-times don’t recognize how much talent is out there.
Why has the public embraced you so singularly?
I really don’t know why. Maybe they just respect the fact that I try as hard as I do. That I try day in and day out to put in the same amount of effort. I never dog it.
The great champions always seem to know what changes they need to make to stay on top. What are you looking to improve in 2004?
Everything. When I was a very little boy, my goal was to set out on Jan. 1 to be a better player by Dec. 31. So far I’ve been able to say [I’ve done] that my entire career and I just want to continue that trend.
There’s really that much room for improvement?
Without a doubt.
