Tiger Woods refuses to rest on laurels
(AP)
Updated: 2006-01-26 10:59

"I can't wait to get out there and compete," Woods said. "I've missed the competition. I've missed the rush of trying to shoot low numbers and win tournaments."

A year ago, the Buick Invitational was a launching pad.

Woods had not won a stroke-play event on the PGA Tour in 16 months when he took advantage of late mistakes by Tom Lehman and Luke Donald, to win by three shots. Swing changes with Hank Haney kept rounding into form, and Woods went on to win the Masters, British Open and two World Golf Championships.

Woods said there is still room to improve, although he is much farther along than he was last year.

"I don't have as far to go to get ready for the Masters this year," he said. "Last year, I had a long way to go. I had a lot of different things I needed to fix to be ready for Augusta. This year, it's not as many. The list is a lot shorter, and the changes aren't as big.

"From that standpoint, I've got a head start on last year."

There are other changes outside of golf. The Tiger Woods Learning Center, an after-school project for kids in the Anaheim area, will have its grand opening Feb. 10. And he recently completed a $38 million purchase of a 10-acre property in south Florida that stretches from the Intracoastal Waterway to the Atlantic Ocean.

Woods didn't say when he would move from Orlando, Fla., or where he would play, although he has an invitation from Jack Nicklaus to the exclusive Bear's Club.

"I told Tiger that he is more than welcome," Nicklaus said. "He may choose to come to The Bear's Club, and he may choose not to come here ... may not want to feel like he's imposing on my situation while he's trying to break my record. He's certainly been invited."

Woods said he likely would keep a house or villa at Isleworth, a course that he said was ideal for major preparations.

And that's ultimately what matters to him this year, just like always.

"Hopefully, I can put together some wins and have a more successful season than I did last year," he said.

Torrey Pines has been friendly to him over the years.

Woods and Mickelson are the only three-time winners of the Buick Invitational, and Woods' worst finish in this tournament was a tie for 10th in 2004, when he missed a playoff by two shots.

"I've been playing here since I was 12," Woods said. "I've had some success here even in the junior ranks. The golf course just suits my eye."

Mickelson, who grew up in San Diego, has been playing it even longer, and still likes to sneak out with the public, although that hasn't happened in a few years.

"I think Torrey Pines South is the hardest golf course I've ever played day in and day out," Mickelson said.