Not his sense of humor, obviously, nor—let's get serious now—the competitive zeal that enabled him to improve upon near perfection. Last year Woods won eight PGA tournaments. This year he copped nine. Last year he captured one of golf's four major events, the PGA Championship. This year he became the first man in nearly half a century to take three. (For the record: the U.S. Open in June, the British Open in July and the PGA, again, in August.) After just four years as a pro, he is the all-time career money winner, with more than $20 million in prize earnings. His $40 million deal with Nike is reported to have more than doubled in size, and nearly a third of voters polled by CNNSI.com think he deserves a piece of the PGA tour's Tiger-fueled TV revenue.
Woods may live in a glittery cocoon of private jets, chauffeured limos and room-service meals, but friends say he's remained his loosey-goosey, video-game-loving 24-year-old self. Except, of course, when there's a competition on the line. "People talk about Tiger's will to win," says CBS Sports golf analyst Peter Kostis, "but I believe his hatred of losing is second to none." Maybe that's why the greatest golfer ever acknowledges his vulnerability like this: "In 10, 15, 20 years," Woods said in October, "some kid is going to come along who blows me out of the water." Think about it. What he's really saying is that no one's going to catch him for 10 years—at least.
Saved by the Bell Reunion
The hookups, the meltdowns, the memoires
The case reveals what was really going on what they think of each other now!
