It's Tiger Woods' world, in case you had not noticed.

The No. 1 golfer on the planet hasn't hit an official shot since September. Already this month the PGA Tour has crowned three winners and paid out nearly $16 million before Woods finally arrived on the stage at Torrey Pines this week. The reigning FedEx Cup champion is currently 137 spots out of first place with zero points.

Yet Woods has still dominated any conversation about golf this year. He may slip out of sight but never out of mind.

When the season kicked off with an all-star field, the primary talking point was that Woods was absent for the third consecutive year and that maybe the tour needs to alter the front-end schedule to address the problem.

Before the second tournament even started, the biggest news in golf was about a flippant comment from The Golf Channel announcer Kelly Tighlman the Friday before suggesting the young golfers out there should "lynch him in a back alley." The tragically poor choice of words ignited a racial controversy that included the influential voice of Al Sharpton demanding Tighlman's ouster.

That Woods, through his agent, accepted her apology and called it a "non-issue" had critics turning on him for not being more offended.

If you thought the focus might turn back to the golf when it reached the mainland last week, you'd be wrong since Golfweek stoked the dying embers of the issue by publishing a cover with a noose on it. That lapse in editorial judgment cost the editor his job and launched a second wave of commentary and consternation.

Oh, did I mention that Woods started the year by sending a little message on his Web site about the possibility of winning the Grand Slam in 2008?

"I think it's easily within reason," he said matter-of-factly.

Well, today Woods begins that quest with a trial run on the South Course that will play host to the U.S. Open, second leg of the Grand Slam in June.

Woods is the three-time defending champion at the Buick Invitational and has never finished outside the top 10 in 10 previous starts at Torrey Pines. A four-peat would bring his 62nd career victory, tying him with Arnold Palmer for fourth on the all-time tour win list just two behind Ben Hogan.

So Woods had a lot to talk about when he sat down for his first tour news conference on Wednesday. Here's a few things from the transcript and a little reading between the lines to serve as the official teeing off of the season.

What does Woods think of the criticism that by letting his friend, Tighlman, off too easily that he let down other people of color who were offended by it?

"I know there are people who want me to be a champion of all causes, and I just can't do that," he said. "This is not the first time this has happened."

Message to Rev. Sharpton -- get off my back.

What about the magazine's controversial treatment?

"The Golfweek article, obviously the cover itself, just perpetuated it," he said. "It was over and handled between us, and we had moved on from it. But unfortunately Golfweek did what they did, and from there it created more of a firestorm."

Message to Golfweek -- don't expect any quality time in the near future.

Moving on, you're on the brink of tying Palmer on the victory ledger. Anything thoughts on that?

"Early in my career I was out here and didn't really know how to handle things all that well," Woods said. "Obviously he's the best that's ever been at dealing with situations out here on tour."

Message to the King -- I won't wear my cap into the clubhouse when I break your mark at Bay Hill.

How was your first Christmas and New Year's with the family and baby Sam?

"Since I wasn't going to go to Kapalua I could actually take that week off and not have to practice and get ready for the first week of the year," he said. "I could wait another week."

Message to commissioner Tim Finchem -- start the season later if you want Woods to show up.

How about the scheduling mulligan with the FedEx Cup, moving the Tour Championship after the Ryder Cup and giving everyone a bye week?

"They're probably more enhanced now that you have the Ryder Cup and the dead week," he said.

Message to Finchem again -- keep the off week if you want any chance of Woods playing all four playoff events.

How about the new drug testing?

"I think overall the policy is fantastic," he said.

Message to the enforcers -- bring me the cup.

What about that rough at Augusta National that's been growing for 10 years?

"A lot of the fairways are tilted, so take the second cut out and balls are running into the trees and pine straw and I'm sure it would be a more interesting test," he said.

Message to Masters chairman Billy Payne -- lower the blades on the lawnmower.

How important is winning a calendar slam instead of a wrap-around slam to you?

"It would be nice," he said. "It would be doing it a different way than I had done before."

Message to critics who think the previous slam was somehow diminished -- bleeeeeeeeeeeep!

And do you really think winning all four majors this season is easily within reasonable?

"For most of my career I've won more than four tournaments per year, and all I have to do is win the right four," he said. "And I've won those a few times. I think if you put it all together, have luck on your side, all the stars will line up, and it certainly is possible. A couple years ago I came within four shots of ... winning or being in a playoff in all four. So yeah, I think it is possible."

Message to your peers -- be very afraid.