Woods Believes in the Power of Love

Tiger Woods, during a satellite hookup with reporters at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks on Monday, was asked how his marriage has affected his career.

“I know that according to some of the press, marriage was the doom of my career,” Woods said. “I don’t think that has happened yet.

“It has been fantastic.... It has actually helped my golf game, because there are days that I have come home and been angry and bummed out, and [Elin, his wife] turns it right around and puts a smile on my face.”

Trivia time: What was Woods’ biggest final-round comeback?

A pleasant trend: Woods, who did the media session to promote the Target World Challenge at Sherwood on Dec. 7-11, was also asked about Jack Nicklaus’ retirement.

“He needs to keep unretiring and retiring because every time he retired at a major championship, I won,” he said. “It’s actually five major championships.

“Maybe I can convince him to come back next year and do a couple of majors.”

New highlights: Besides the many highlights in his career, Woods now has highlights in his hair. “It was my idea,” he said. “I have to do it while I still got it, before it does the moon walk all the way off.”

USC vs. the NFL: Could USC beat an NFL team?

“I think USC could beat the Houston Texans,” Rob Dibble said on FSN’s “Best Damn Sports Show Period.”

USC alumni Rodney Peete disagreed. “There are no Oregons in the NFL,” he said.

The title fits: NFL network analyst Emmitt Smith, after learning that 6-foot-6, 330-pound Lincoln Kennedy made a guest appearance on the CBS sitcom, “Two and a Half Men” Monday night, said, “What do you mean he is on ‘Two and a Half Men’? He is two and a half men.”

Steer clear of this debate: NASCAR driver Tony Stewart was asked by Life magazine what he says to people who don’t think drivers are real athletes.

“Go to a racing school, drive eight laps, get out of the car, and then tell me how you feel,” Stewart said.

But maybe he’s a setter: Atlanta Brave announcer Don Sutton, on Florida Marlin catcher Matt Treanor’s being married to beach volleyball star Misty May: “I’m not sure if they have a family pet, but if it’s a dog, they probably named it Spike.”

Looking back: On this day in 1935, Rod Dedeaux made his major league debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers. The former USC baseball coach, who played shortstop at Hollywood High and USC, appeared in two games and went one for four before a back injury ended his playing career.

Trivia answer: He came from eight shots back and beat Ernie Els in a playoff at the 1998 Johnny Walker Classic.

And finally: “I bought a big screen TV so I could watch the baseball playoffs at home,” said Jay Leno, “just like the Dodgers.”

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Larry Stewart can be reached at larry.stewart@latimes.com.