Tiger Woods is determined to secure his first victory of 2002 at this week's PGA Tour season-opening Mercedes Championships in Hawaii.
"It's always important to win early," the world number one told reporters at Kapalua's Plantation Course ahead of today’s first round. "It's important to play well because it makes you feel better about the season".
Woods won the event two years ago, after beating Ernie Els in a playoff, and finished in a share of eighth last year, six shots behind winner Jim Furyk.
In five seasons of trying, he has never placed worse than eighth in the Mercedes, having won the title twice [in 1997 and 2000] and come second once.
"When I got here, I was kind of fired up for this tournament," he said. "Today, I'm even more fired up. It's good. It's a good feeling to have to know that we've all got to start from scratch and start all over again".
Woods had to play in six US Tour events last year before winning his first title of the year and there was widespread talk of a 'Tiger slump' on the tour.
But, after winning the Bay Hill in March, he went on to make golfing history by clinching the US Masters at Augusta to become the first player to hold all four majors at one time.
By the end of the year, Woods won five times on the US Tour, winning the money title for a third successive year.