It's a silly old game.
At the U.S. Open, you're going to make bogeys.
What I'm saying is that, unlike a lot of portrayals of me, I'm not hiding behind the sunglasses. I'm out there working. I'm not trying to sell anybody anything, but I do realize we're entertainers.
I slowly continued to compensate for the physical problems I was having and ended up completely destroying my swing, my set-up, my posture. Everything was gone.
But you know, I'm just not a quitter.
Maybe that's some of the reason I feel so good today. Maybe I finally realised that it's just a game.
The way I grew up playing, and the way most Americans have grown up, is that you hit the ball up in the air and then it stops where it lands.
But just like I've always said when people complain about tee times, 'I just want a tee time. Just give me one so I can play.'
I was in the middle of the golf tournament trying to make birdies and I was just having a blast. So that probably qualifies as having a greater appreciation.
I realize what it means to be financially comfortable, and I want to be that. But I'm lucky enough to be in that position. And I'm also careful. I save 38 percent of my earnings after expenses, before taxes.
The best way to explain it is that I'm not yearning anymore, on or off the course. I appreciate what I have. I feel like I'm blessed.
Confidence is such a fragile and precious thing.
And if people do like me, I think it's because I'm a stand-up guy.
I think about what I say. I don't give stock answers. I'm not trying to cultivate an image with the public, like several of the top players do.
I love hitting the ball, controlling the ball. And yeah, even the roar of the crowd. I enjoy the roar of the crowd probably less than some players and more than some. But I'm not out here to be a celebrity.
I know the other side. I know what awful golf is.
You don't have to hit perfect shots all the time here. The variety of shots you get to play, the shots you sometimes have to hit along the ground, it's just a lot of fun to me.
I've seen the bottom and I know the difference between good golf and bad golf.
I didn't do anything spectacular when I won the Open in 2001. I hit the ball good, not great. I putted good, not great, but I think I missed maybe two putts inside eight feet all week.
You do what you need to if you're serious about playing great golf.
