Tiger Woods stalks idol Nicklaus' legacy

Tiger Woods, on course to become sport's first billion-dollar man, resumes the business of stalking the legacy of his idol this week at the Masters.

Woods, at age 24, has seized the mantle as world's most dominant figure in sports following the retirement of all-conquering basketball legend Michael Jordan, already having won more money in his golf career (more than $17 million) than any player in history.

Throw in annual endorsements exceeding $50 million and Woods would seem to have it all. But the charismatic American is still miles away from his most cherished goal -- the extraordinary total of 18 major championships won by Jack Nicklaus.

Growing up in Cypress, California, 35 miles (56 km) southeast of Los Angeles, Woods kept a chart on the wall by his bed of the chronology of Nicklaus's majestic feats -- a growth chart for Tiger to measure his progress by.

Now he returns to Augusta National -- scene of his spectacular major championship coming out party three years ago -- looking for a second successive major title, and third total, following his victory in last year's PGA Championship at Medinah.

"The ultimate goal is to peak four times a year," Woods said about his fixation on the majors.

Financial analysts have predicted that should Woods maintain his electric pace, golf prize money continue to grow and his investments bear fruit, the former Stanford University student could crack the billion-dollar mark in personal fortune by the end of his career.

Woods knows, of course, that all he has to do is take care of business on the course -- and for the precocious golfing great that means to step up his assault on Nicklaus's major championship record.

Nicklaus stunned an Augusta National news conference five years ago when he said following a practice round with Woods and Arnold Palmer that the then-amateur was capable of winning as many Masters as he and Arnie put together (10).

Woods rewarded the Golden Bear's faith in him with his extraordinary Masters triumph in 1997 when he did indeed turn Bobby Jones's course into his personal playground to post his most lopsided victory.

In fact, Woods has already authored stretches of golf brilliance that read like chapter headings in a golf history.

The Amateur Career -- Woods follows up an unprecedented three successive U.S. Junior Championships with three successive U.S. Amateur titles.

The Major -- Woods becomes the youngest ever Masters champion (21 years, three months and 14 days), winning by the widest margin (12 strokes) and with the lowest score (18 under par). He also becomes the first golfer of African or Asian heritage to win a major championship.

The Streak -- Woods wins four consecutive PGA Tour events to end 1999 and starts 2000 with PGA Tour victories in the season-opening Mercedes Championships and at Pebble Beach. His six-tournament winning streak matches Ben Hogan's 1953 feat, leaving only Byron Nelson with a longer skein.

Woods would prefer to do his winning in the majors, but the opposition was nothing but top rate in his glorious streak. Among the second-place finishers to the incomparable Tiger were Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els (twice), Davis Love, Vijay Singh and Miguel Angel-Jimenez.

Even since the streak ended, Woods has hardly sagged. He won Palmer's Bay Hill Invitational and finished second or joint second in three out of four others.

Besides his prodigious gifts -- an awesome power game off the tee combined with a safecracker's touch around the greens -- Woods has made himself a better player as he continues to mature both physically and emotionally.

Despite adding muscle to his lanky frame, he has refined his power swing to gain more control and zeroed in on his distances with the irons through swing adjustments and indefatigable practice.

He has mustered even sharper focus on the job at hand, while taking more control of his life. He has changed business managers and caddies, and is designing a dream house in Orlando to go with his California beach hangout.

Woods's has proven unflappable on the course -- even with crowds cheering on the underdog, as they did at the PGA Championship for Spanish wunderkind Sergio Garcia.

Still, the pressure remains on Woods as the public awaits his next Grand Slam triumph. Woods is eager for the next one, too.