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“If you look at most of the guys’ careers, it looks like their peak years are in their 30s,” Tiger Woods said Wednesday.

And to think that his biggest goal when he turned pro was to avoid Q-school.

Woods still considers his rookie year — or two months, in his case — to be among his greatest achievements. He was trying to earn enough money to secure his card for the ’97 season, and wound up qualifying for the Tour Championship with two victories in seven starts.

“I was praying not to go to Q-school,” he said. “I had my application sent in, and because I had no status, I had to go to first stage. I was hoping that wouldn’t happen, because anything can happen.”

Then came the ’97 Masters, which he won with a record score (18-under 270) by a record margin (12 shots). Back then, winning a major came with a 10-year exemption on tour, and Woods figured he was set.

On Tuesday, Woods won the PGA Tour player of the year award for the seventh time, and this was the fifth time in nine full seasons that he has won player of the year, the money title and Vardon Trophy for the lowest scoring average.

“He’s one of those special guys that doesn’t come along very often,” Toms said. “Watching his game, how he goes about his business, it’s still very impressive. You can tell he’s been able to do what he’s done because he’s different. He’s more driven and more focused than any person I’ve ever been around in professional golf.”

It was only a year ago at this tournament that he no longer was No. 1 in the world, replaced by Vijay Singh, and players were whispering that his swing changes with Hank Haney were holding him back.

Woods was overly sensitive to the criticism last year, but now says he understands. He overhauled his swing with Butch Harmon after his record win at the Masters, and came back with one of the greatest stretches in golf, including four straight majors.

This change was partly about health.

“That’s the reason why I made the changes, to relieve some stress on my body parts that were taking a pounding,” said Woods, who had surgery on his left knee at the end of 2002. “The end result is I’ve relieved some stress there, which has been great. I’ve been more healthy and feeling better.”

U.S. Open champion Michael Campbell played with Woods in China and at the Grand Slam, and noticed a swing that looks less forced, more natural. Woods, who was starting to grasp Haney’s changes about this time last year, said he is 10 times better and no longer needs to call Haney whenever something goes wrong.

Health likely will play a big role in his 30s. For, as much as Woods works out, he complained of a rib injury at the Presidents Cup and an ankle injury when he was in Asia.

Most players believe the bigger question is desire.

“I’ll quit playing when I can’t play any more, when my best isn’t good enough,” Woods said. “I’ve been to the top, where if I play my best, I know I can win. If my best isn’t good enough, why am I out here? I’ll go home.”