You are in > manchester.com  > News > Woods claims he is only now 'entering his prime' as golfer

Golf

Woods claims he is only now 'entering his prime' as golfer

27/03/2008

World number one Tiger Woods has claimed he is "just entering my prime" as a golfer, despite having won 13 majors in his career already.

The 32-year-old recently saw his astonishing streak of seven consecutive tournament victories ended by Australian Geoff Ogilvy at the WGC-CA Championship in Miami.

And after looking virtually unbeatable towards the end of last season, the American has fired a warning to his rivals - stating he believes his current form can continue for up to another decade.

"I am 32 and I feel like I am just entering my prime," he told the Reuters news agency.

"Every sport is slightly different.

"I think [basketball star Michael Jordan] would probably say his best years [in the NBA] were his early 30s whereas most [NFL] running backs would probably say it is their mid- to late-20s.

"In our sport your best years are generally in your 30s. Some guys are able to sustain that into their early 40s."

It is commonly accepted that Woods will be the overwhelming favourite ahead of any competition he enters, given his dominance of the sport in recent years.

And many pundits have proclaimed it a foregone conclusion that he will surpass Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major title wins in his career.

Woods himself has frequently shied away from discussing his prospects for knocking Nicklaus off his perch as the greatest golfer of all time.

But he claims he will know when it is time to put down his clubs for the final time, as he is not prepared to endure life as a PGA Tour also-ran.

"For me it is very simple," he said when discussing when he plans to retire.

"It is when my best isn't good enough any more.

"I could not live with myself going out and practicing and preparing as hard as I do and knowing that if I go out and play my best someone is just going to beat me.

"But that happens, your skills diminish, guys get better, they are more athletic. You have your time in the sun, there is nothing wrong in walking away from it.

"I have accomplished so much in the sport already and hopefully I can continue to do that for as long as I possibly can but when that time comes, well, every athlete knows when that happens."