Robotic Woods seeking perfection

Tiger Woods is becoming almost robotic according to his WGC - Accenture Match Play victim Stewart Cink.

The US Ryder Cup star suffered a record 8 and 7 hammering as the world No 1 fired 14 birdies in 29 holes in the final in Tucson.

And Cink reckons that Woods is playing better than he did in 2000 when he won the US Open, the Open and the US PGA before completing the "Tiger Slam" with the 2001 Masters.

Cink said: "Tiger always stays very poised and he doesn't often throw away a shot. He's a lot better now than he's ever been at that.

"He has really learned how to stay within himself. He regulates his heartbeat. I think we maybe ought to slice him open to see what's inside there. Maybe nuts and bolts.

"He's got such a strong sense of belief in himself that he's just never out of it. He's never going to mess up. He's always in control. He's a gentleman but he's a killer out there."

Woods' victory was his sixth in a row around the world and his eighth from nine starts since August last year.

And he insisted that his intention is still to win every events he plays this year with the Grand Slam top of his hitlist.

Woods said: "That's my intent. That's why you play. It you don't believe you can win an event, don't show up.

"This is the best stretch that I have ever played."

His 63rd PGA Tour win pushed him past Arnold Palmer to fourth in the all-time victory list in the US with only Ben Hogan (64 wins), Jack Nicklaus (73 wins) and Sam Snead (82 wins) ahead of him now.

Woods joked: "When I see him (Palmer) I will give him an earful and I'm sure he'll probably do the same.

"I think anytime you're associated with Arnold and what he's done with the game of golf, it's always a positive thing."

Cink added: "He's playing better now than he was then (in 2000). It's just hard to say right now that it is not as good as that was. I think it's at least as good."

The gap between Woods and the rest is now bigger than ever and the pressure is on the chasing bunch is growing all the time.

And Woods believes that criticism of Phil Mickelson and Co is almost an insult to their hard work and dedication.

Woods said: "It's not like they are not practising at home. Look at what some of the guys do in the off season, getting fitter and stronger, more flexible.

"Guys have changed equipment companies, anything to try and get a little bit better. It think it is a shot at them a little bit."

Beaten by Cink in the second round, Padraig Harrington has two weeks off before he reappears in the Ballantine's Championship on Jeju Island in Korea from March 13-16.

The Irish star remained at No 10 in the latest world rankings and seventh on the Ryder Cup World Points List but moved up four places to 11th on the European Points List.