Woods aiming to emulate Federer in his return to glory

TIGER WOODS will take inspiration from the likes of Roger Federer and Jim Furyk as he attempts to win for the first time since 2013 in any way possible.

Woods admits his latest swing has been designed to “play away from pain” as he makes his comeback from a back injury which required three operations in the space of 19 months.

The former world No.1 also concedes he can no longer keep up with the biggest hitters in the game, but believes he can find different ways to add to his haul of 79 PGA Tour titles and 14 Major championships.

“Whether my swing looks classical, rhythmical or it may look unorthodox, I don’t care. As long as I don’t feel that nerve pain,” Woods told a pre-tournament press conference broadcast live on Facebook ahead of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

“Anyone who has ever had nerve pain in their back or anywhere in their spine, it’s like hitting your funny bone a thousand times a day; it’s just not fun.”

Two days after Woods missed the cut in the Farmers Insurance Open, his friend Federer returned from a six-month lay-off to win the Australian Open, his 18th Grand Slam title.

“He rehabbed and you can tell how fast he’s moving,” added Woods, who will partner Masters champion Danny Willett and Matt Fitzpatrick in the first two rounds in Dubai.

“As you get older, you change your game and you do things differently. Am I going to do that? Yeah, I’m not going to be hitting balls like some of these guys 340 [yards] out there. I watched Dustin [Johnson] last week when it was cold, wet and damp and he carried it 335.

“If you look at the list of guys who shot below 60, you realise Jim Furyk’s on there twice. He averages 270 off the tee, shot two rounds under 60. So it can be done in different ways.”

Woods did not finish outside the top five on his first five appearances in Dubai and lifted the trophy in 2006 and 2008, but the world number 666 was 20th and 41st respectively on his last two visits in 2011 and 2014.

However, he insists he has not lowered his expectations after his long injury lay-off, adding: “If I’m teeing it up, the goal is to win. If I’m in the event, it’s to win the event.”