In that briefest of responses the world’s greatest golfer, first billionaire sportsman and a man who currently dominates his sport like no other, confirmed his resolve to scythe a glorious swathe through golfing history.

Forget Nick Faldo’s teasing suggestion to hire a prostitute to tire him out. Ignore Lee Trevino’s plea for the rest to gang up on Woods. Put down the attempt by a sport-blind security guard to block his entry to Muirfield this week as a last desperate twist of fate to unsettle him.

Woods, who begins his bid to win his third major of the year when he tees off in intriguing company of England’s Justin Rose on Thursday morning, plans to play this game until he drops.

He intends to rack up majors until Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 appears little more than an opening chapter in the most extraordinary sporting story ever told.

Who knows how many Grand Slams that might bring? How boring might it all become?

On a bleak day when the rain-laden breeze sent a distinct chill down the Firth of Forth the words of Woods must have sent a shiver through the likes of David Duval, Phil Mickelson, Rose and co.

‘‘I love what I’m doing. I love getting up and can’t wait to go out there and practise and compete,’’ said Woods, who shrugs off suggestions he might get bored with winning.

‘‘That’s what I love to do. I’ve always loved to compete in anything I do.

‘‘I would love to play competitively as long as my body allows me. Mentally I enjoy competing too much. I enjoy the challenge too much. Physically, hopefully there won’t come a time when I can’t play this game.

‘‘I’m excited about getting out there this week and playing because the golf course is so challenging. It’s going to be a fun test.’’

Woods has been passing ‘fun’ examinations since he putted at the age of two on national television with Bob Hope, since he shot 48 for nine holes at age three and was featured in Golf Digest at five.

And since he began his phenomenal string of professional triumphs in 1997 with his record-breaking 12-stroke US Masters victory which saw him crowned the youngest-ever champion at 21 years, three months and 14 days.

Victory this week would see Woods overtake Gary Player and Tom Watson to land his ninth major.

It would install him as the first golfer since Ben Hogan in 1953 to win the first three majors in a calendar year - he won four in a row spanning 2000-01 - and leave him just the USPGA next month short of a calendar Grand Slam.

That would be a unique feat and one which would cement his claim, at the impossibly early age of 26, to be the greatest golfer who ever lived.

However, Duval later claimed others in the 156-strong field were equally as talented as Woods.

Statistics struggle to support him but Woods was generous in his defence of his fellow players.

‘‘They’ve played well,’’ said Woods. ‘‘It’s just I’ve played well at the right times and made the right putts and got the good breaks at the right times and that’s what you need to happen.

‘‘I’ve done it this year so far and hopefully it will continue. It’s not like the guys are shooting 80s on the final round. They’re shooting solid rounds. Phil (Mickelson) shot even par on the Sunday of the US Open and under the conditions that wasn’t easy. It’s just I had a big enough lead over him. I was able to outlast him.

‘‘Just look at the scoring averages these guys are shooting, how much lower these guys are having to play major championships. It’s not too often you go out there and break the scoring record in a PGA Championship and you are in a play-off.

‘‘The guys are getting better and the scores are getting lower and it’s tougher to win. In their era (Nicklaus’) a select few guys had a chance. Now that group has grown and more players have a chance to win tournaments.’’

Does he ever get bored with winning so easily?

‘‘If you were a golfer you would probably answer that question by saying would you rather have a one-shot lead or a 20-shot lead with two holes to go,’’ he said. ‘‘I think most of us would pick the bigger lead and I certainly feel that way as well.’’

It is the relief from the big Grand Slam question, brought about by the fact Woods has not played since winning the US Open, which has leant Woods even more confidence.

‘‘The hardest thing I had to do when I won all four in a row was to wait seven months between tournaments (the USPGA and the US Masters) and have to be asked that question for those seven straight months.

‘‘At least this year it happens month after month after month. It’s a lot easier to deal with than the build-up to Augusta in 2001.’’

Getting easier is not what Woods rivals wanted to hear.