PSYCHOLOGICAL HOLD

All too often, he has enjoyed a psychological hold over his peers in golf's elite events and his career haul of 12 majors exceeds the combined totals achieved by Phil Mickelson (three), Ernie Els (three) and Retief Goosen (two).

"He won more than 50 percent of the tournaments that he played this year, and that's mind-boggling to me," Paul Azinger said during a conference call this week after being named the 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup captain.

"He's set tournament records in just about every tournament he's won.

"There's a whole other standard out there and right now it's as hard for us to win as it was for the guys who were playing against Jack (Nicklaus)."

Woods won the last two majors of the year, the British Open and the PGA Championship, after missing the cut at the U.S. Open, his first tournament back following the death of his father on May 3.

Hardly surprisingly, the 2006 season will always leave a bitter-sweet taste in his mouth.

"It has been a long, challenging year, especially off the golf course," said Woods, who is playing in this week's Champions tournament in Shanghai.

"Nothing could make up for losing my father, but I know he would have been proud of the way I rebounded after missing the cut at the U.S. Open by winning six straight PGA Tour tournaments, including two majors.

"Dad taught me to never give up. Although it has been difficult at times to concentrate on golf, I have continued to work and fight and good things happened."

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