Woods hosts Target World Challenge

THOUSAND OAKS – Tiger Woods, who plays his last event as a 20-something when he hosts the Target World Challenge starting today, is confident he will thrive in his 30s.

Woods is the big name in a talented 16-man field for the 5.5 million-dollar unofficial event. Woods, who turns 30 on December 30, won 46 PGA Tour events in his 20s and already is third in major championship victories with 10, trailing only Walter Hagen (11) and Jack Nicklaus (18).He also has twice completed a career grand slam.Woods believes his best could be yet to come.”If you look at most of the guys’ careers, it looks like their peak years are in their 30s.Hopefully that will be the case for me,” Woods said.”Hopefully my 30s will be better than my 20s.That would be pretty neat to have happen.”Obviously there is a lot deeper competition, a lot more work I need to do, work to accomplish those goals.But obviously winning major championships is what I want to do for the rest of my career.”Woods wrapped up his final season before turning 30 in style, winning the Masters and British Open.On Tuesday, he was voted Player of the Year for the seventh time in the last nine seasons.He won six times this season and also claimed the Arnold Palmer Award for topping the money list and the Byron Nelson Trophy for lowest scoring average (68.66).”It’s been nice.I’ve had a lot of things happen this year,” Woods said.”It’s been exciting to finally get back on it and winning golf tournaments.I won two majors this year….It’s not about winning Player of the Year awards, it’s about winning tournaments which allow you to get these awards.”Woods fired a final-round five-under-par 66 to win here last season by two shots over Padraig Harrington.Harrington is back in the field and will be joined by Chris DiMarco, David Toms, Davis Love, Fred Couples, Fred Funk, Kenny Perry, Darren Clarke, Luke Donald, Jim Furyk, Colin Montgomerie, 2005 US Open Champion Michael Campbell, Thomas Bjorn, David Howell and Tim Clark.- Nampa-AFPWoods, who turns 30 on December 30, won 46 PGA Tour events in his 20s and already is third in major championship victories with 10, trailing only Walter Hagen (11) and Jack Nicklaus (18).He also has twice completed a career grand slam.Woods believes his best could be yet to come.”If you look at most of the guys’ careers, it looks like their peak years are in their 30s.Hopefully that will be the case for me,” Woods said.”Hopefully my 30s will be better than my 20s.That would be pretty neat to have happen.”Obviously there is a lot deeper competition, a lot more work I need to do, work to accomplish those goals.But obviously winning major championships is what I want to do for the rest of my career.”Woods wrapped up his final season before turning 30 in style, winning the Masters and British Open.On Tuesday, he was voted Player of the Year for the seventh time in the last nine seasons.He won six times this season and also claimed the Arnold Palmer Award for topping the money list and the Byron Nelson Trophy for lowest scoring average (68.66).”It’s been nice.I’ve had a lot of things happen this year,” Woods said.”It’s been exciting to finally get back on it and winning golf tournaments.I won two majors this year….It’s not about winning Player of the Year awards, it’s about winning tournaments which allow you to get these awards.”Woods fired a final-round five-under-par 66 to win here last season by two shots over Padraig Harrington.Harrington is back in the field and will be joined by Chris DiMarco, David Toms, Davis Love, Fred Couples, Fred Funk, Kenny Perry, Darren Clarke, Luke Donald, Jim Furyk, Colin Montgomerie, 2005 US Open Champion Michael Campbell, Thomas Bjorn, David Howell and Tim Clark.- Nampa-AFP