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Streaks.

Why do we care about them? Why do we make so much out of them?

Tiger's current streak is over. Many of us are disappointed; our desire to see Woods' streak go on and on lived vicariously through the world's best player.

We sigh with disappointment but Tiger might sigh with relief.

Consider that Tiger's best round at the CA Championship was on Friday when he posted a 66, the best in the field that day and was just one shot behind Geoff Ogilvy.

After that, he couldn't come close to matching that number. Even par 72 in round three was nowhere when Ogilvy was putting up a 68. Woods lipped out three or four times in round three and just couldn't find that putter magic that has become his hallmark in big events.

But he had some fire this morning when action resumed after yesterday's delayed start to the fourth round. He had moved within three shots of Ogilvy but simply ran out of holes.

Woods was asked after his round what he thought he needed to shoot to win. "A 7 would have been good" was his reply, an indication of how much the streak was on his mind, too.

He was then asked outright how disappointed he was that the streak was over. "Well, you always want to win whenever you play" was all he would say but his facial expression said it all: he was very disappointed.

In fact, as he implied, Tiger could have won this. IF those putts hadn't lipped out. IF the photographer on the 9th hole hadn't fired his camera on the backswing.

But that's golf. It's a fickle game that can never be mastered for very long. Like life.

And, like life, golf makes you want to come back and try again. But the best we can do - Tiger included - is to conquer it repeatedly.

We can just never conquer it permanently.

So, the streak is over. Now it's time to start a new one.