So, another chapter in the Tiger Woods legend has been written. With his improbable Johnnie Walker Classic triumph on the eve of the Year of the Tiger, the 'Chosen One' emitted a roar of intent that was heard around the golfing world.
'It's just another year. It just happens to have my name on it,' said Woods, basking in a victory that defied all logic and, ominously for those with pretensions of usurping him as world number one in 1998, proved that he can win even when his game is considerably below its best.
Woods will no doubt soon forget that for the best part of his week in the paradise of Phuket, he appeared to be going through purgatory. Born of frustration at his failure to play at the level to which he is accustomed, he spent much of the first three days looking distinctly dissatisfied.
In the Land of a Thousand Smiles there was precious little cheer from Woods, who slammed clubs into the ground and whispered expletives to himself on the course and, upon completing one round, directed similar invective at those whose crime it was to invite him to attend a media conference.
Eight shots off the pace in joint 18th position going into the final round at the Blue Canyon Country Club, there was not a pundit who considered Thailand's favourite adopted son had a chance.
Woods himself suggested he would require a closing 10-under-par 62 to pose a threat to Ernie Els and Nick Faldo, playing 11 groups behind him in the final flight of the last day. A flight of fancy? Even at this early stage of his career, if there's one thing we've learned about Tiger Woods it is that we write him off at our own peril.