Let's see - he's on a private yacht with his Swedish bride, with no one to bother him but the U.S. Coast Guard. Why even bother coming back for one tournament?

"Trust me," Woods said with a big grin. "That thought went through my head a lot of times."

Eventually, the honeymoon has to end.

"I miss competing," Woods said. "That's what I love to do."

He hasn't been shown much love in return.

Woods's only victory this year is the Accenture Match Play Championship at La Costa at the end of February. His drought in the majors is 10 and counting. He is No. 3 in the world ranking, No. 4 on the money list.

But even on the open sea, Woods still found room for golf.

"When I was on the boat, I was actually thinking about my game quite a bit and organizing my 'To Do' list - what causes what in the golf swing, and basically prioritizing what I needed to work on," Woods said.

He thought his game was close before he got married.

Woods was runner-up at Firestone to Stewart Cink. He was runner-up to Singh at Deutsche Bank. He was going for his third straight title in the American Express Championship until injuring his back.

"I was so excited when I got over there, and then I couldn't move," Woods said. "I thought that the way I played in finishing ninth there, with limited ability to play the game, I thought I had a chance to come back and do some pretty good things."

Woods has been saying all year his game is close, and not many believed him. Count Masters champion Phil Mickelson among those who do. Lefty came off his worst year on tour by winning his first major and coming within five shots of winning all four of them.

"I got re-motivated, excited about working hard, came out and had a wonderful year," Mickelson said. "And I think that Tiger is going to do the same thing. I expect him to be the dominant force that he's been in the past."

This being the present, about all Woods can do at East Lake is end a weak year on a strong note.

Note - Canadian Mike Weir is also in the field this week.

It reminds Woods of the last time someone else was No. 1 in the world - David Duval, who won 11 times in 18 months.

"Everybody has a run," Woods said. "I had one. Duval had one. Johnny Miller, (Jack) Nicklaus, (Tom) Watson, everyone has their run. It's just a matter of how long can you continue. Fortunately for me, I lasted five years."

The question is how long Singh can keep this up - and whether Woods can come back.

Woods had such a good time in the Caribbean that he skipped the Disney tournament for the first time since turning pro, and he nearly called it a year by not playing in the Tour Championship.

Let's see - he's on a private yacht with his Swedish bride, with no one to bother him but the U.S. Coast Guard. Why even bother coming back for one tournament?

"Trust me," Woods said with a big grin. "That thought went through my head a lot of times."

Eventually, the honeymoon has to end.

"I miss competing," Woods said. "That's what I love to do."

He hasn't been shown much love in return.

Woods's only victory this year is the Accenture Match Play Championship at La Costa at the end of February. His drought in the majors is 10 and counting. He is No. 3 in the world ranking,

No. 4 on the money list.

But even on the open sea, Woods still found room for golf.

"When I was on the boat, I was actually thinking about my game quite a bit and organizing my 'To Do list' - what causes what in the golf swing, and basically prioritizing what I needed to work on," Woods said.

He thought his game was close before he got married.

Woods was runner-up at Firestone to Stewart Cink. He was runner-up to Singh at Deutsche Bank. He was going for his third straight title in the American Express Championship until injuring his back.

Woods has been saying all year his game is close, and not many believed him. Count Masters champion Phil Mickelson among those who do. Lefty came off his worst year on the Tour by winning his first major and coming within five shots of winning all four of them.

"I got re-motivated, excited about working hard, came out and had a wonderful year," Mickelson said. "And I think that Tiger is going to do the same thing. I expect Tiger to be the dominant force that he has been in the past."

This being the present, about all Woods can do at East Lake is end a weak year on a strong note.

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Hmmm.... Golfers do NOT play golf with a ring on his finger.