"After what's happened in my life?"

I was traveling today so I was curious to read Tiger's press conference transcript. Several emailed to suggest he came off as curt and certainly in print it came off that way, but I'm not sure I can entirely blame him since he hasn't got much in the way of positive stuff to talk about right now.

Q. How different has this comeback been for you than the last time you had a long layoff, both with everything on and off the course for you?

TIGER WOODS: Very different. This is more taxing certainly away from the golf course, with a lot of the things, paparazzi following me and all those kind of things.

As Jake said to Elwood when he found out the Blues mobile had been traded in for a microphone, I can see that.

Q. Were you angry, surprised, I wondered what your reaction was to the SI poll that had 24 percent of players polled said they thought you had taken performance enhancing drugs in your career. What was your reaction?

TIGER WOODS: Well, I've never taken it. I've never taken performance enhancing drugs, never taken HGH, never taken any of that stuff. But everyone is entitled to their opinion.

Q. You weren't angry about it, surprised?

TIGER WOODS: After what's happened in my life?

I can see that.

Now I found this interesting but a few of you wrote in, suggesting this answer rubbed you the wrong way. I thought it was fascinating to hear his take on why players of a younger age have more refined swings today.

Q. What did you make of an 18-year-old shooting 58 and a 20-year-old shooting 62?

TIGER WOODS: You know, it's just -- I think it's how the game has evolved. It's become -- with the advent of technology, these kids are able to view their swings via a camera, videotape, and analyze their swings and make improvements so much faster and earlier, and their golf swings are so much better at an earlier age, even from when I grew up.

And for today's rally killer...

Q. But you would agree with Mark O'Meara's assessment of Rory's game? He was ahead of you at that age?

TIGER WOODS: No doubt. I wasn't a pro until almost 21, and he was pro at what, 18, I believe it was?

Q. 17.

TIGER WOODS: So I wasn't even near ready to turn pro at that age. I wasn't good enough.

Q. Do you think Earl would be surprised we have a black president?

TIGER WOODS: No, not at all.

Q. What do you think he'd make of this guy?

TIGER WOODS: He was hoping that he would see that day. There's no doubt he was hoping he'd see that day.

Q. What do you think he'd make of this guy?

TIGER WOODS: He'd be very proud.

Oy...and you wonder why he doesn't like to come into the press room...

He was asked a question about today's players and links golf and I thought he missed a nice opportunity here to advocate more links courses hosting European Tour events or Ryder Cups.

How many tournaments do you guys have on links golf courses besides the Open?

Q. The Irish Open.

TIGER WOODS: So you have two.

Q. Dunhill is at St. Andrews.

TIGER WOODS: So not that many.