Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
For the first time in his professional career he has gone a year without winning, but after finally hitting his rhythm with two birdies and two eagles in his final six holes, Tiger Woods has good cause to be optimistic for 2011.
Woods shot the joint best round of the week, a 65, in Melbourne on Sunday, although it was not good enough for him to retain his last remaining title, finishing fourth behind Stuart Appleby.
He insists he is close to rediscovering his best form after his fourth place finish at the Australian Masters but he will still be very keen to say goodbye to what has been, by all accounts, a miserable year.
Not only did he not win, he lost more world ranking points than any other player and, as a result, his number one spot, adding to his much-publicised off course problems.
But the new swing changes are bedding in under the tutelage of coach Sean Foley and I'm sure a winter of practicing the new swing will see a refreshed Woods in hot pursuit of Jack Nicklaus' major record.
I saw, with interest, the decision of Rory McIlroy to not take up his full card in America for 2011. Also following down that route are Martin Kaymer and Lee Westwood. The fact that the European Tour membership now requires a player to commit to 13 events a year has nothing to do with it. However, the fact that Westwood and Kaymer are in the world's top three certainly does.
No longer are the top stars forced to go west to earn world ranking points. If they play in the four majors, the four World Golf Championships and the platinum events in Europe and Asia, they can then pick and choose what tournaments they want to play elsewhere without having to play the stipulated amount to preserve their USPGA Tour card.
With the extensive travel that modern day players face, a little over 20 events a season is about the correct number. However, I can't help feeling their decision is a blow to PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem and I think the PGA Tour needs to change a few things if it is to attract the best players week in-week out once again.
There are no flamboyant or flair players Stateside except perhaps Rickie Fowler, and he has yet to win. Players like Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, Stricker, Toms and Verplank have been the mainstays of the Tour over the last two decades and now they are all on the wrong side of 40. Tiger's schedule has always been minimal and it remains to be seen how much he plays moving in to the new season.
In Europe, there are players to get the crowds excited - Matteo Manassero, Rory, Quiros, the Molinaris and Ross Fisher, all young, talented and, up to now, very successful. If they don't have to go searching for ranking points, why should they uproot and go to America?
This week sees the penultimate event of the season, the Hong Kong Open, with some of the best and most successful players in the world descending on Dubai; I'm sure the PGA Tour in the US will be looking on and possibly taking a good long look at itself to try and find a way to match it!
