That's frustrating, but it doesn't hurt." Asked how long such a streak would have to go on before it became something more than frustrating, Woods replied: "Three, four, five, six years; something like that."What Woods has not managed to do is hole enough putts to score consistently low at a time of the year in America when the courses and conditions are not as formidable as in the main part of the season. "There are always going to be guys who go low one week but there have been different winners every week," Woods added. "The key is consistency."There is no doubt who is going to be the most consistent when the phoney war of the early season is over "My appetite wasn't changed. The hard part is to maintain the same form and getting everything to come together the right week."Despite the jetlag involved, Woods was delighted to leave behind the rain and bumpy greens of Los Angeles and arrive in the sunshine of the desert.

Although Woods said all the right PR things about always having wanted to play here, the Emirates is one of the great tournament venues and is back in superb condition after the tournament moved to the Creek for the last two years.. Same.. but different. It is not a promise, of course, but those with a vested interest in the money-making global television soap opera that is Formula One are suggesting there could be just enough variation to the familiar theme to keep us watching this season Same.. but different. It is not a promise, of course, but those with a vested interest in the money-making global television soap opera that is Formula One are suggesting there could be just enough variation to the familiar theme to keep us watching this season. Ultimately, it is almost certain to come down to another Ferrari versus McLaren-Mercedes confrontation for the championship, but the excited talk within grand prix circles is of twists and surprises along the way. The return of Michelin, breaking Bridgestone's monopoly, and the inevitable outbreak of "tyre wars'' should enhance the prospect of the unpredictable.Williams-BMW, one of five teams switching to Michelin this year, are generally thought to be the best equipped to break out from the pack and challenge Ferrari and McLaren - still on Bridgestone rubber - if only at the occasional race It is time a wind of change blew through Formula One.

Even a gentle breeze would provide a breath of fresh air.Michael Schumacher's long overdue success with Ferrari last season closed an absorbing chapter, although the best driver of his generation, and possibly any generation, will doubtless be at the forefront again this season. He requires another seven grand prix victories to equal Alain Prost's record of 51 and that, along with a fourth title, has to be a feasible objective for the 32-year-old German.The test for Ferrari, emotionally drained as well as vindicated after delivering the drivers' championship to motor sports' biggest fan club, is to lift themselves and do it all again. Schumacher may have to dig deeper than ever into his reserves of motivation and inspiration.McLaren, on the other hand, were resolved to regain both the individual and constructors' titles even as Ferrari were cavorting in their red wigs in Malaysia last autumn. McLaren's all new car has performed impressively in testing, prompting some to describe it as Adrian Newey's finest creation for the team.The problem for the rest is that the intensity of the contest at the top may well push Ferrari and McLaren still further out of reach, leaving only the scraps to be scavenged for and rendering "tyre wars'' an irrelevant pit lane spat.This scenario comes as a culture shock for Bobby Rahal, the former IndyCar champion and now team principal at Jaguar "It is very different from what I am used to,'' he says. "I've been involved in racing where several teams and drivers have a genuine chance of winning.

Here it's hard to get close to the top two, even for a team like Williams.''If Williams and the others fail to bridge the gap, the onus is on those at Ferrari and McLaren to produce that something different. Rubens Barrichello, embarking on his second season at Maranello, should be stronger and more assertive for the experience, and he has declared his intention to shake off the mantle of "Schumacher's No 2''. Easier said than done.More realistic, if still improbable given the evidence of the last three years, is the emergence of David Coulthard as a credible contender from McLaren. He has had the advantage of the best car since the end of 1997, yet is still cast as the third man in the championship saga.Mika Hakkinen has usually outpaced him and taken the fight to Ferrari, the Finn winning the title in 1998 and 1999 and finishing second to Schumacher last season.Ron Dennis, the McLaren team principal, maintains both his drivers will be better than ever because the competition demands constant improvement. Coulthard is reluctant to overstate his case, conscious as he is that "you've heard it all before''.And yet the propaganda machinery would have us believe Coulthard does have an extra gear. Importantly, he now appears to have the full support of a team who did not disguise the fact they held Hakkinen in a particularly close embrace after his near fatal crash at Adelaide in 1995.A member of the camp who has always championed Coulthard's cause is the head of Mercedes Motor Sport, Norbert Haug. He says: "One of these days people will realise how good David is He has been unlucky but has always worked for the team.