Last week, the world's best golfer hit a round of practice balls while his 5-month-old daughter, Sam, watched intently.

"She shakes every time I hit a shot," Woods said.

Then there's the time a liberating practice session before the emotional 2006 British Open win helped Woods "play golf again" after losing his father, Earl.

All of this was told outside of, yes, a practice range at the PGA Learning Center in Port St. Lucie, where a charismatic Woods entertained a crowd of executives and media members while testing out Nike Golf's new SQ SUMO drivers yesterday.

Maybe Woods is acting breezy because he'll soon be a beach bum, waiting for his home near Jupiter to finish being built.

For the first time in his career, Woods took two months away from golf, stashing his clubs from the end of the Presidents Cup in early October until late last week. Instead of grinding out chips and putts, he preferred working out, spending time with his family and catching Orlando Magic and Tampa Bay Buccaneers games. Turns out, Woods said, sabbaticals are worth it.

"I'm fresher," said Woods, who still has a home in Orlando . "I'll enjoy being mentally fresh. This (offseason) I had a chance to work on my body and get it stronger than I've ever had it. I haven't put on any weight, which is great. I've leaned up a little bit. (Last) week, I really started missing being out there and trying to see people. Anybody at Isleworth who wants a game, hopefully the cash will go my way."

After seven PGA Tour victories this year and 61 for his career, Woods has earned the time off. The march into next year starts next week as Woods prepares for the Target World Challenge, his own tournament, in Thousand Oaks, Calif. He then will map out his '08 schedule and set his sights on the Masters in April.

Even icons must shake a little golf rustiness.

"The first day back I hit like a god," Woods said. "The next day, I'm a 5-handicapper. Third day's an 18. After a week or two, I'm finally getting back to hopefully a zero handicap. I don't know why it's like that. This has always been the case with me."

Woods talked about searching for his game after his father passed away in May 2006. Woods subsequently missed the cut in the 2006 U.S. Open, only to find his way in time to win the British in July.

"I needed to get back to playing golf again," Woods said. "But all the fundamentals I thought about, I related to my dad. One night I let it all go and got back to golfing again. And I enjoyed it so much that I didn't want to leave (the range)."

Though Woods said he doesn't know how many events he'll play in 2008, his best accomplishment in 2007 wasn't winning a major.