When they say America is the land of opportunity, it's true. If you work hard, people appreciate you.

I have this reputation of not wanting to talk to the media, which isn't true. What I don't like-what a lot of us don't understand-is how we can say one thing and it turns up in print as something else.

I can honestly say that in my time in America, I have not encountered any racism. When Jim Thorpe and I make fun of each other on the range, or even when a white player makes a joke about my color, I take it as what it is-a joke-and give it back accordingly.

The people who know me, the people who see the passion I have for this game and the respect for it, they know that I don't cut any corners in the way I approach golf.

It's like getting the Williams sisters to play (tennis) against a man, and they're far better athletes than she (Sorenstam) is.

The more they made noise, the more calm I became.

There are probably guys who could be superstars but aren't because they didn't work at it.