It is one of those inexplicable paradoxes of sport. When the New York Yankees or the Montreal Canadiens or, yes, Tiger Woods, win with monotonous regularity, everybody screams for a level playing field.

Then, when the Holy Grail of parity has been achieved, that same population pines for a dominant entity to sweep them off their feet. It all falls under the category of "Be careful what you wish for because it might just come true."

Starting at the 1999 PGA Championship, Woods went on a tear, the likes of which professional golf has never seen. He won five of the next six major championships and seven of the next 11, including four in succession. It was all Tiger all the time and the golf boom was in full roar.

After Woods won his eighth major championship, the 2002 U.S. Open at the age of 27, it became a question not of if but when he would surpass Jack Nicklaus' major record of 18 and his fellow professionals were scolded from a variety of pulpits (including the Church of Nicklaus) for not rising to meet the Tiger challenge.

Twenty-six months later, it is a whole new world. Not necessarily better, just different. Since Woods won that U.S. Open at Bethpage Black, nine majors have come and gone, producing nine different champions, none of them named Woods.

Does that parade of champions proclaim what's wrong with golf? Or what's right?

Golf purists probably revel in the muddied waters. Certainly it's evidence that Woods' peers have responded to the catcalls. It's also evidence that golf is a hard game to dominate for very long.

"The theory is that it's not easy," Woods said yesterday, here in Haven, Wis., at the PGA Championship.

"It's never easy to win a major championship. I think all you guys realize that now.

"When I was on my run, I was in a great rhythm."

During the past 2 1/2 years, Woods has been close but just unable to get it done under the gun.

"You just keep playing," he said. "Everyone of us has doubts and we've got to overcome them. If I had not given myself a chance to win one of those last nine majors, then I would be bothered a lot more than I am.

"There have been three or four times during that stretch when I should have been right there in the last couple of holes to win. That tells me I was playing well. If I had not gone through stretches when I was playing well, it would be more frustrating."

If anyone should be frustrated, it's Ernie Els. During Woods' so-called slump, Els has won one major but been agonizingly close several times. This year alone, he has been in position to win all three majors.

"After (the British Open) I went home to South Africa and blew off a little steam,'' Els said. "I was quite disappointed but I'm okay now. I've gone through it a few times, but that's the game of golf. If I make that putt (on the 72nd hole at Troon) I win the tournament and we're laughing and smiling.

"It's a fine line that we walk."

None of the other players want to think much about it but they all agree Woods is going to dominate again.

Whether the new Tiger era begins this week is impossible to tell. Certainly Whistling Straits is the kind of long, technical course that Woods can devour on his good days.

This place also has Phil Mickelson's name written all over it. He has been on site for 10 days, trying to mine its secrets.

"It's just a matter of time before Tiger breaks out," Mickelson said. "The stretch of golf I witnessed Tiger play from 1999 through 2001 was some of the most incredible golf that has ever been played.

"Obviously he's going to win by a bunch if he plays at that level. But if nobody plays at that level, then it's a much more packed leaderboard."

Dominance? Or parity? Take your pick because you can't have it both ways.