Woods keen to qualify

SPORTS Tiger very upbeat on eve of BMW Championship

TIGER Woods is really determined to qualify for the tournament which provided his first win for five years after giving a positive update on his fitness ahead of the BMW Championship.

Woods was forced to withdraw from The Northern Trust ahead of his second round at Liberty National last week due to a “mild oblique strain”, inevitably prompting speculation that his Masters win represented the last hurrah of a remarkable career.

The 43-year-old has played just 13 tournament rounds since winning his 15th Major title at Augusta National in April, two years after he underwent careersaving spinal fusion surgery.

However, Woods was in upbeat mood as he targets a finish of 11th or better at Medinah, where he won the US PGA Championship in 1999 and 2006, in order to qualify for the Tour Championship in Atlanta.

Woods, whose victory at East Lake last year was his first since the 2013 Bridgestone Invitational, said he was feeling “way, way better” and added: “It was nice to take those days off. I had to let it calm down and get a bunch of treatment on it and it feels so much better.

“I played the front nine and played quite well, which was nice to see, nice to feel. I took the back nine off, chipped and putted quite a bit and it definitely doesn’t feel like it did on Friday, that’s for sure.

“As I’ve said before, the forces have got to go somewhere and, unfortunately, when I make any kinds of tweaks and changes to my swing, it’s like a new body part’s aching. Unfortunately, I can’t play around the back like I used to and things flare up.

“I’m trying to make tweaks all year and ease the stress off my back while still playing.”

Fairmuir Navy took on DUSC in an U/11 game at Graham Street.

Tiger Woods carefully watches his drive during a practice round.