It takes a brave man to throw himself between a PGA Tour executive and a marketing opportunity, so it is all credit to Tiger Woods for at least attempting to dampen the hype surrounding his appearance at the Buick Invitational, starting today in San Diego, where he will have a golden opportunity to extend his winning streak to seven successive PGA tournaments.

Woods maintains that his brilliant 2006 run came to an end at Wentworth in September, when he lost to Shaun Micheel in the World Matchplay, although that is not a PGA event. But the American tour, which has relaunched itself this year in a desperate attempt to recapture the interest of domestic fans, has an obvious interest in promoting this so-called streak.

What makes Woods' run such a marketing department dream is the fact that if he wins on Sunday at Torrey Pines, where he is defending the title, he will be four victories short of Byron Nelson's record of 11 successive PGA victories, set in 1945.

And Woods is expected to play the next four PGA "approved" events in Los Angeles, Tucson, Florida and Augusta.

"If Tiger extends his streak to seven, he will get some more time to work on his game because his appearance at the Dubai Desert Classic won't count in terms of the record," one reporter wrote.

But to write off the Dubai tournament is ignorant because it fails to recognise the sport has changed enormously since Nelson set his record.

As the Ryder Cup has consistently proved, the US circuit is no longer the be-all-and-end-all of world golf.

This rush to manufacture history out of thin air is all the more puzzling because 2007 really could be the year in which Woods rewrites the record books.

He arrived in San Diego this week fresh from a skiing break, followed by a few days spent in Florida working with his coach, Hank Haney, where the search for improvement continued, as ever.

Even if none were found it is difficult to see anyone beating Woods at Augusta in the Masters during April. From there it is on to Oakmont, for the US Open - a long, attritional course which might suit Woods, presuming that he can drive the ball straight.

That would give Woods a repeat of the feat of 2000-01, when he won four majors in a row. Then comes Carnoustie for the British Open in July - another difficult track but Woods has played there, likes the place and will start as favourite.

Of the year's four major championship sites only Southern Hills, Oklahoma, venue for the PGA in August, would seem to militate against a Woods' triumph. It is short by modern standards, and some of the greens border on silly.

But if he can get there having won the other three, it is entirely plausible that he could win the fourth by sheer force of will. Now that really would be history.