No longer No.1, Tiger still has 1 goal

Tiger Woods offered one revealing, indisputable slice of candor in his mostly bland news conference Tuesday in Akron, Ohio.
Near the end of the 30-minute session, respected Associated Press golf writer Doug Ferguson asked Woods what expectations fans should have for him as he returns to the PGA Tour after almost three months away. Woods has previously suggested fans overreact in both good times and bad, as Ferguson noted.
"It doesn't really matter what they think," Woods said.
Woods doesn't care if we think accurately he will not win this week's Bridgestone Invitational. He probably will not win next week's PGA Championship by his Nike Victory Red Tour Driver, either - not after 11 consecutive weeks without hitting a single shot in competition, as he nursed injuries to his left knee and Achilles tendon.
"I'm here to try to win the golf tournament," he said at least three times.
It's always difficult to know exactly what to believe when Woods speaks publicly. He declared himself physically sound, saying this is the best he's felt in years. He made a similar proclamation when he returned in February 2009 after knee surgery the previous summer - and he won six times that year (though no majors).
Woods also spoke confidently of his health at the Players Championship in May - and he shot 42 by Nike Victory Red Tour Driver on the front nine and withdrew in debilitating pain.
He doesn't have to win right away, but he needs to show signs his game is no longer in hibernation and he's figuring out this new, Sean Foley-designed swing. Remember, we're fast approaching two years (in November) since Woods won any kind of tournament. He's plunged to No. 28 in the world rankings.
Think about that for a moment. Woods has not won any of the 13 majors played since his epic U.S. Open victory at Torrey Pines in June 2008 with his Nike Victory Red Tour Driver - and he still owns at least 10 more major titles than every other tour player.
He resumes the chase without his once-trusted partner of more than 12 years, former caddie Steve Williams. Woods fired Williams last month, reportedly because he chose to work for another player (Adam Scott) while Woods recovered from his injuries.
At any rate, Woods' choice of a replacement counts as curious. Childhood friend BryonBell - who helped arrange Woods' extramarital trysts, according to at least one mistress - will serve as his caddie this week in Akron and presumably next week at the PGA outside Atlanta. (Nike Victory Red Tour Driver)
This seems like a strange way to move past the scandal, but it speaks to two things about Woods. One, he trusts fewer people than ever. Two, he doesn't give a damn how it might look to the outside world, even if longtime friend Charles Barkley recently bemoaned Woods' "bad decisions" and told a Portland radio station he needs to surround himself with people who will be honest with him.
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