DUBLIN, Ohio — Tiger Woods has been exceedingly consistent in his golf career. But where he excels is in adding exclamation points.

Tiger Woods chips out a bunker on the eighth green during Wednesday's practice round. (Jeff Swinger photos) | ZOOM |

        The seven major championships. The largest margin of victory in Masters history. The four consecutive majors, a non-traditional Grand Slam. The career money-list crown.

        His greatest attribute might be his sense for the occasion and his ability to rise to it. That's what makes this Memorial Tournament potentially magical.

        Today Woods begins his pursuit of a fourth consecutive title at Muirfield Village. Only two players have ever won four consecutive PGA Tour events: Walter Hagen won the PGA Championship from 1924-27 and Gene Sarazen the Miami Open in 1926 and '28-30.

        “It's something, knowing you're going for a piece of history where you can be a part of such great names as Hagen and Sarazen,” Woods said. “Those are legends in the game of golf.”

        So is this name: Tiger Woods.

        He's still No.1, trying for his fifth season atop the world rankings.

        “Since I've been playing the sport, I've never found anybody that's dominated anything more,” Jack Nicklaus said recently.

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        If Woods fails here in his bid for a “four-peat,” he still has two more chances for that feat in the coming year. He has won three straight in the NEC World Golf Invitational, which moves in August from Akron's Firestone Country Club to Sahalee Country Club, near Seattle. And he has won the Bay Hill Invitational in Orlando, Fla., three consecutive times and can go for four in March.

        Yet he may not have to wait past this weekend, for Muirfield is tailor-made for Woods' game. It's a long course (7,224 yards) with ample fairways, plus four par-5s that Woods dominates.

        The layout earns frequent comparisons with Augusta National, where Woods has won three Masters titles. In recent years, Woods has been burying the field here by a larger margin each time. After Woods won last year's Memorial by seven strokes, co-runner-up Paul Azinger apologized for not giving him more competition.

        “When he's playing his "A' game, nobody's going to beat him,” said Steve Flesch, the PGA Tour pro from Union, Ky. “This course just really fits his type of game. If he putts well, there's no reason why he shouldn't win.”

        The scary part is that Woods is just 26 and still improving.

        “Tiger will get better,” Nicklaus said. “He'll find ways. He has as good of a work ethic as anyone.”

        That won't always spell dominance, Nicklaus said. He thinks other top pros will learn lessons from their failures. He cited the final round at this year's Masters, when numerous top pros folded while Woods played patient golf.

        “They were playing Tiger,” Nicklaus said. “They should have been playing the golf course.

        “Tiger is good, but the whole world isn't going to fall down forever. You'll have some good players; they will learn from that and they will be better because of it.”

        One factor that could help his rivals this week is the weather forecast. This tournament often has been deluged by rain, meaning the ball doesn't roll far when players drive the fairway. Woods' ball flew farther in the air, giving him an advantage.

        The expected sunshine should mean a drier, faster course, so others probably will fly well off the tee, too. Yet players must be cautious about being overly aggressive, because it could get them in trouble.

        Woods won't be facing four of the other nine players in the world's top 10 — No.4 Retief Goosen, No.6 David Toms, No.9 Nick Price and No.10 Padraig Harrington — who aren't here this week.

        Woods has won the last six tournaments he has played in Ohio: the last three Memorials and three consecutive NEC Invitationals. He has earned almost $5 million just within the boundaries of the state. That's $1 million more than the career earnings of Arnold Palmer and Gary Player — combined.

        “When you play a tournament you've won and you're coming down the stretch with a chance to win, you can say, "I've done this before.'” Woods said. “And there's a sense of calm when that happens.”

        A sense of calm for Woods this weekend will mean a scent of history.

        Tiger sympathizes with Griffey
        Lickliter driven to succeed
        Memorial Tournament Web site
        Tristate golf courses guide and news

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