High of the Tiger

WOODS' GLOBAL WARNING WORLD No.1: I'LL BE MUCH BETTER IN 10 YEARS' TIME

By Graham Otway 23/03/2008

Tiger Woods has issued a chilling warning to his rivals who hope that one day he will fail to dominate world golf.

Incredibly, the greatest golfer the sport has ever seen believes his game will only get better over the next 10 years.

Woods, 32, went into yesterday's third round of the CA Championship at Doral one shot off the lead in pursuit of his eighth tournament win in a row.

And Tiger, already a 2-1-on favourite to win the US Masters at Augusta next month, has clearly now set his sights way beyond just beating the record of 18 Major victories held by Jack Nicklaus (right).

Woods said: "I've been out here for 12 years now.

And seeing all the things that have happened over the years, I have learned from them.

"And I guarantee you that, 10 years from now, I'll be a hell of a lot better with my course management than I am now, just from that many more years of experience."

Woods revealed that it was a chastening experience during last year's Open at Carnoustie where he could only finish 12th, five shots behind Irish winner Padraig Harrington, that has increased his appetite to win every tournament he enters.

He said: "I don't see how you can live with yourself not giving your best. People do that, but I don't know how they do - it's unacceptable to me.

"At The Open, in my practice sessions going into it I didn't have my game where I wanted it to be.

And it's frustrating when you don't put it together in a Major like that - I can't have that happen again."

Woods' self-belief has grown since Carnoustie because he says he has completed the swing changes that restricted him to winning only one Major - the USPGA - in 2007.

That has allowed him to concentrate on honing his short game to produce the type of stunning 24-foot putt on the 72nd green which clinched the Arnold Palmer Invitational last week.

However, Woods was looking beatable more than halfway through the third round at Doral last night as he slipped three shots off the pace.

Overnight leader Geoff Ogilvy, the 2006 US Open champion, led at 14 under after 11 holes. He was one stroke ahead of fellow Aussie Adam Scott, with Woods equal third at 11 under, before rain and thunder halted play for the day.