Will Tiger Put a 7 on His Scorecard?

LA JOLLA —  The Tiger Woods Traveling Roadshow has pulled into Southern California for the latest stop on its relentless trip into golf’s outer atmosphere, a journey that now spans two continents, $4.59 million in prize money, 5 1/2 months and six consecutive victories.

Beginning today at the Buick Invitational, Woods will try to make it seven in a row, a number reached only once before, when Byron Nelson was on his way to winning 11 straight tournaments in 1945.

Right now, it is becoming clear that Woods’ winning streak is the golf equivalent of roulette . . . where it stops, nobody knows. Certainly after what happened Monday at Pebble Beach, Woods is giving no clear signal that he has had enough or that he’s tired of winning or that it’s somebody else’s turn or that he’s losing interest.

And here’s something new. Woods is actually recognizing his streak, which is sort of nice since everyone else already has done it for him. But it represents a change in philosophy. Until now, Woods has maintained his streak began in 2000 with a victory at the Mercedes Championships, because the first four wins occurred in 1999.

At the same time, Woods is far from saying he has no shot at Nelson’s record.

“I think I can do it if I play well, keep hitting the ball well, keep making the putts and more importantly, have luck on my side,” Woods said Wednesday at Torrey Pines.

“There is a chance, but the chances are very small . . . very small.”

Meanwhile, the scene surrounding Tiger is getting very large indeed.

There were 14 television cameras at Woods’ pre-tournament news conference Wednesday morning. Tournament media requests have tripled from last year to more than 300, a number that includes reporters from the BBC as well as the Christian Science Monitor, which is not usually inclined to staff golf events.

Mark Steinberg, Woods’ agent at IMG, was so busy fielding queries about his client that he had no time to shave.

“The intensity level is high, way up there,” Steinberg said.

This is not only understandable, but also a direct result of Woods’ latest victory--a come-from-behind, sure-to-be modern classic at the rain-delayed AT&T; National Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

Woods was five shots down to begin the last round and seven shots down to Matt Gogel with seven holes to play, yet wound up winning by two over Gogel and Vijay Singh. Woods played the last four holes in four under par, including an eagle at the par-four 15th when he holed out from 97 yards and birdies at No. 16 (where he nearly holed out again) and at No. 18.

Woods, who closed with an eight-under 64, had to come from farther behind to win than in any PGA tournament of his career.

However he did it, Woods kept his streak intact and continued his pursuit of Nelson’s 55-year-old record.

“It’s a tremendous task that I have ahead of me, if I’m going to be the one or someone else is going to be the one,” he said. “You know, whoever it is, you are going to have to play good for not only a long period of time, but you have to get lucky.

“For instance, if I shoot 64 on Monday and Matt goes out and shoots even par on the back, I don’t have a chance.”

Instead, Gogel played the back nine in four over. He was distracted enough after missing what would have been a tying 10-foot birdie putt at the 18th that he also missed the three-foot comeback putt.

It sounds so much like an understatement, but Woods does very little each week that would cost him a victory. His game appears effortless, his focus clear enough that when he stood on the 18th fairway Monday afternoon at Pebble Beach, he allowed himself a moment to muse about the cost of the bulkhead of artificial rock along the left side.

Woods insists he does not often think about his streak.

“To be honest with you, when I’m out there playing or getting ready for a tournament, the only time I think about the streak is when you [reporters] bring it up.

“I’m out there trying to win a tournament, that’s all. And what I did last week doesn’t really matter this week.”

And winning golf tournaments, regardless of whether a streak is involved, is most important to Woods.

“That to me is enjoyable, if I go out there and I have beaten everybody else in the field. From that aspect, I’ve enjoyed [the streak]. But have I enjoyed the streak? I really don’t know.

“It’s just interesting here that people talk about the streak rather than the shots I’m hitting or the putts I made. And I think that’s more important than the streak because that’s what keeps it alive. It is what keeps Tiger Woods in contention.”

At Torrey Pines, a 156-player field that includes Phil Mickelson, Davis Love III, Fred Couples and Steve Elkington will try to end Woods’ lengthy run in the winner’s circle.

Chances are good that Woods won’t cooperate. Not only is he the defending champion, but he has won junior world titles on this course, and his own good-luck charm in caddie Bryon Bell, a high school buddy from Cypress. Bell, who is trying to get into medical school, caddied here last year for Woods.

Woods has won 17 times, but he has never successfully defended a title. Anyone like his chances of breaking that streak?

The Facts

* What: Buick Invitational

* When: Today-Sunday

* TV: USA (today-Friday, 4 p.m., delayed) and CBS (Saturday-Sunday, noon)