GOLF PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP:NINE HOLES of practice had seen five balls disappear into water, but when Tiger Woods spoke to reporters in Florida yesterday it was clear that the state of his game is not his major worry right now.
Four days after crashing to a 79 and missing the cut at Quail Hollow by an incredible eight shots, Woods looked and sounded thoroughly down as he tries to prepare for the €5 million Players Championship, golf’s richest event.
Amid continuing reports that his Swedish wife is seeking a divorce over the sex scandal that rocked the sport five months ago, the world number one admitted that his emotional turmoil is affecting on his golf.
“Absolutely,” said Woods, who has Ian Poulter as one of his two partners in the opening two rounds at Sawgrass and who could lose top spot in the rankings to Phil Mickelson if he is outside the first five on Sunday.
“I’ve had two different low moments. Obviously what I’m going through now and then my father’s death.”
Last week was arguably the worst result of his career. Invited to compare this return to golf to last year after an eight-month injury lay-off he replied: “This is more taxing certainly away from the golf course with paparazzi following me and all those kind of things. I didn’t have the distractions getting ready for events.”
Woods said that in spite of some of the evidence of his morning’s work, his game is “getting better, no doubt. It couldn’t get any worse.
“I don’t like missing cuts (he has only missed six as a professional and never two in a row) and it’s just one of those things where just a little bit of work, tighten things up a little bit and get refocused for this event.”
There are rumours he and coach Hank Haney could be parting company, but on that he stated: “I’m still working with him.”
Woods said he will not be fazed if his 258-week reign at the head of the rankings is ended by Mickelson.
“I’ve had it happen before,” he said. “The whole idea to be number one and continue being number one, you have to win tournaments and I haven’t done that in a while. We’ve been going at it for 13 years.
“It’s gone in streaks where I’ll get him, he’ll get me, and it goes in little spurts. Right now he’s won a few and hopefully I can win a few myself.”
He was also categorical that the man advertising his “Grand Slam” irons on eBay for $250,000 does not have the real thing. “They’re in my garage,” he said.
Because of how he played last week Woods is only joint favourite with Mickelson this time. Because of how Rory McIlroy played last week – closing rounds of 66 and 62 to win his first US Tour title by four – he is listed as third favourite. And Woods is as impressed as anyone by the Ulsterman, who turned 21 today.
“Rory hits it past me. I shrimp it out there now,” he said after praising not only McIlroy, but also 18-year-old Ryo Ishikawa for his 58 in Japan on Sunday.
“I think it’s how the game has evolved. With the advent of technology these kids are able to view their swings via a camera and make improvements so much faster and earlier.”
McIlroy said he was still “floating” after his US Tour victory, and revealed part of the motivation for his spectacular return to form came from looking at the Ryder Cup table.
“I was just beginning to think I really need to get the finger out here not to have any late worries.”
Now a near-certainty for a debut at Celtic Manor in October, he decided to put victory and birthday celebrations on ice.
“It’s a huge week. I can party all I want when I get home on Monday,” he added.
Anthony Kim and Steve Stricker have withdrawn this week due to injury.
