Ogilvy, who grew up in Melbourne playing the great courses of Australia’s Sand Belt, says he used to think he was just mad when he berated himself over a bad shot. He gradually learned, though, it’s not temper as much as negative emotions.

“Tiger gets as angry as anyone, and everyone in this room probably thinks he’s the best mentally out here in history,” Ogilvy said. “It can’t be the anger thing. He keeps it under control and it doesn’t affect his next shot. He never sits in here and tells you he plays bad even if he does play bad. He just won’t admit it.

“That’s probably his strongest attribute because it never affects him. So I’ve been trying my best to be a bit more positive about it.”

Ogilvy, who had top-six finishes at the British Open and PGA Championship last year, had many positives to take away from La Costa, too.

The Aussie played like a cat with nine lives in his first four matches -- surviving extra holes to beat reigning U.S. Open champion Michael Campbell, Nick O’Hern, Mike Weir and the European Tour’s leading money winner, David Howell.

Ogilvy admitted he actually had his hat in his hand and was prepared to offer congratulations to Nick O'Hern as his fellow Aussie stared down a 5-footer to win their match. But the putt refused to fall and Ogilvy's remarkable run continued. He made birdie on the 18th hole in each of those four matches, three times to send it into extra holes. Against Weir, Ogilvy even staged a furious rally from 4 down with four to play, eventually winning on the 21st hole.

“Something was on my side this week -- keeping their putts out of the hole and making mine go in,” Ogilvy said. “But I guess you can say that any time you win a tournament.”

Ogilvy then beat U.S. Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman 4 and 3 in the semifinals before eliminating Love on the 34th hole of their finale. So there were plenty of nice things to talk about with his alter ego at La Costa this week.

“It’s silly, but it works,” Ogilvy said. “If you hit a good shot, you should tell yourself you hit a good shot. Before, if I hit a good shot, (I’d still say), oh, that was a bit off the toe. That’s what a lot of guys do. You can hear other guys whisper under their breath about it.

“It’s really quite elementary when you think about it – if you just pat yourself on the back and don’t get too despondent when you hit a bad one. It’s not rocket science but it can have an effect.”

It certainly did at La Costa this week.