Changes for A Champion.(Tiger Woods)(Interview)

The media called his 2003 season "a slump." Tiger Woods insists that's nonsense. And last week his fellow PGA Tour pros agreed, honoring him as Player of the Year for the fifth consecutive year. It was Tiger's biggest win since just a few weeks earlier when he proposed to his girlfriend, Swedish model Elin Nordegren. Last week Woods was the genial host of the Target World Challenge, an elite-field tourney that supports Tiger Woods Foundation charities. Before teeing off, he talked to NEWSWEEK's national sports correspondent, Mark Starr, about his game and his girl.

STARR: It would seem you're at a critical juncture in your life, professionally and personally.

WOODS: I feel as if my game is progressing and also my life is progressing at a nice rate. I think golfers probably hit their prime somewhere around 30, but some start a little earlier. Hopefully I can be the one who starts a little earlier and ends a little later, too.

Before you proposed to your fiancee, you asked your closest friends what they saw in your relationship. Did they see what you saw?

The same thing, happiness. Any time you see a person smile and it makes you just light up--that's what you want to hear from your friends.

What made this the right time to take the big step?

I was ready for that type of stuff. She obviously didn't expect it, which made it more exciting. It's been a neat experience and one we're going to enjoy for a little bit.