IT’S NOT SO EASY TIGER

Faldo: Performance in the Masters is wake-up call for Woods

TIGER WOODS was given a “wake-up call” at the Masters after struggling for all four rounds, according to Sir Nick Faldo.

The four-time champion received a rapturous reception as he walked onto the 18th green, only to three-putt for a 69. It summed up a week which promised more than it delivered for the former world No.1 and his fans. “All in all it was a bittersweet ending,” he said. The American finished his first Major since 2015 on one over par and his final round saw him avoid his worst-ever Masters finish as a professional – his tied-40th in 2012. Five tournaments into his latest comeback, Woods (left) had arrived in Augusta talking up his chances of a fifth Green Jacket. By Friday afternoon he had reverted to talking about how lucky he was to be playing a year after his fourth spinal operation.

He found form with his driver but his iron-play was awry – and he needed 117 putts over his four rounds.

If Woods is a changed man off the course with his smiles and geniality, he is also a very different player from his heyday. And Faldo reckons he still has a way to go.

“There are still too many things wrong with his game,” said the three-time Masters winner. “He is struggling with his irons. This has been a wake-up call with what the leaders have done this week. He is still a long way off.”

After his final round Woods claimed he was happy merely to be playing all four rounds at Augusta.

“I missed it. I missed playing Major championships,” he said. “It is two-and-a-half or three years since I played in a Major. Normally I build my schedule around them.” Woods, who always dominated the par-5s, finally made his first and only eagle of the week when he rolled in a 29foot putt on the 15th green. “It is great to be back. I had the opportunity to win at the beginning of the week but it didn’t pan out. I didn’t hit my irons well enough and made too many mistakes,” he said. “I drove it on a string but again my irons were off and my putting was awful. It was possibly the highest score I could have shot today. All in all it was a bittersweet ending.” Woods, now 42, has played in five of the last eight weeks and did not say when he will tee up again. I am going to take a little break for sure,” he said. “I will get in the gym and do some work and get fitter.

“It felt good to compete and good to walk the golf course. The last two years I have just come here to eat.”

Phil Mickelson (left) won a money match playing with old sparring partner Woods on practice days but finished a shot behind his Ryder Cup team-mate over four rounds.

Mickelson shot a 67 yesterday but the damage was done with a nightmare 79 on Friday.

The left-hander, who can complete his own career Grand Slam at the US Open in June, said: “I hit one good shot this whole week, the seven-iron on 17 which went exactly as I had wanted it to.

“So I was just a little bit off and I’ll take a week or two off to regroup.

“I’ve been very consistent this year but last week and this week I’ve had some really big misses which I haven’t been doing this year.

“I haven’t had big numbers this year but these last two weeks I’ve had a lot of big numbers.”