Woods has turned Poipu Bay into a personal playground

Watching Tiger Woods play Poipu Bay Golf Course is like watching a virtuoso play the piano in Carnegie Hall. Next week, Woods will for the eighth time take center stage in the season-ending showcase of major winners, with more of his beautiful work sure to be on display.

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- Major champions who have gathered at Poipu Bay Golf Course for the PGA Grand Slam of Golf have all enjoyed the Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed layout because of its scoring potential, but
since he burst onto the scene in 1997, Tiger Woods has been a Secretariat among a field of trotters.

Call him "Mr. November."

The world's No. 1-ranked player and this year's PGA Player of the Year, Woods marks his eighth trip to the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, Nov. 21-22, having gained a berth with victories in the British Open and PGA Championship. Woods is looking for his seventh title, and will be joined at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa in the $1.25 million, 36-hole event by reigning U.S. Open Champion Geoff Ogilvy, Vardon Trophy winner and world No. 3 Jim Furyk, the 2003 U.S. Open Champion, and 2003 Masters Champion Mike Weir.

Since 1994, Poipu Bay Golf Course has yielded a 69.61 scoring average in the 80 stroke-play rounds that have been contested by major champions. Most impressively, Woods has has turned the picturesque layout into his own personal playground. He has averaged 66.5 strokes in 10 rounds, on the strength of eight eagles, 76 birdies and 142 pars. He has made just 17 bogeys and one double bogey.

Last year, Woods closed with a 64 to win by seven strokes over Phil Mickelson, who the previous year posted a sizzling 59 en route to victory. Woods' best performance on the island came in 2002, when he finished with a 61 for a 36-hole scoring record of 127 that was matched by Mickelson in 2004.

Furyk and Weir, who finished 1-2 in the 2003 PGA Grand Slam of Golf, will have the luxury of course knowledge in their return visit to the season-ending showcase of major winners. It is Ogilvy's first trip to the event, having captured the U.S. Open at Winged Foot last June when his final-hole par-saving putt was good for a one- stroke win over Furyk, Colin Montgomerie and Mickelson, who closed with a double bogey.

"I've played it in different wind conditions, the Kona, the Trades," Woods said after his victory in 2005. "I've played it in stroke play, I've played it in match play. You play enough times, you get very familiar with the golf course. I feel very comfortable here. Most of the holes really suit my eye and for some reason, I just kind of put it together every time I come here."

If any player is to make a run at Woods at Poipu Bay, it has to happen on the front side, which has been prime territory for scoring.

The previous 10 stroke-play PGA Grand Slam of Golf events have produced a 34.28 scoring average on the front nine, and a 35.32 average on the back nine.

The 501-yard, par-4 16th hole -- yielding a 4.262 stroke average -- is the No. 1 most difficult hole. Woods has played the hole 2-under-par in his previous 10 rounds, including a birdie in 2002, which propelled him toward his 61. And, he has turned the 550-yard, par-5 18th hole into his highlight reel by playing it 8-under-par, including an eagle in 2000 that sent him into a playoff with Vijay Singh. Once in the playoff, Woods eagled the hole again for the victory.

In his five previous stroke-play rounds at Poipu Bay, Woods is 37-under-par on the course's four par-5s, including two eagles in last year's final round on the sixth and 14th holes.

It's a scoring bonanza for most players at Poipu Bay, but it has defined Woods' ability to turn up the level of play without much rest and in some cases when he has been under the weather.

He has earned $2.65 million in his previous seven trips, and finished runner-up in 1997 to Ernie Els despite making only one bogey in 36 holes.

Coverage of the 24th PGA Grand Slam of Golf begins on TNT on Tues., Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. ET and continues on Wed., Nov. 22 at 6 p.m. ET. You can also watch live coverage of the PGA Grand Slam of Golf online at PGA.com, which will stream live coverage two hours before the TNT broadcast comes on the air.

TNT's Ernie Johnson will return to the network's golf coverage for the event, serving as host and play-by-play announcer throughout the tournament. Johnson will be joined by analysts Bobby Clampett and Billy Kratzert, while reporter Jim Huber will provide analysis, highlights, updates and interviews.

As in the past, TNT will air sound bytes from all four golfers, who will wear microphones during their tournament play.

Tickets to the PGA Grand Slam of Golf are available for purchase at 1-800-PGA-GOLF (742-4653), or online at www.PGA.com.

Celebrating its 90th anniversary, The PGA of America was founded in 1916, and is a not-for-profit organization that promotes the game of golf while continuing to enhance the standards of the profession. The Association is comprised of more than 28,000 men and women PGA Professionals who are dedicated to growing participation in the game of golf.