Desert date heats up Tiger’s major designs on glory
Woods eyes wins as he fine-tunes Masters build-up
Tiger Woods added the Dubai Desert Classic to his growing list of 2017 tournaments on Thursday, giving him four events in five weeks in a fitness test ahead of April’s Masters.
The 14- time major champion in December returned from a 16-month layoff following back surgery. The former world No 1 confirmed in a blog post on his website that he would play Feb 2-5 in the United Arab Emirates at an event he won in 2006 and 2008.
The move came a day after Woods announced he would play the week before at the PGA event at Torrey Pines, which he has won seven times. He has also scheduled starts at Riviera (Feb 16-19) and the following week at the Honda Classic near his south Florida home.
“I am working hard to sharpen my game for 2017 and my goal is simple: to win,” Woods said. “Winning takes care of itself.”
Woods, ranked 321st, probably would not qualify for the World Golf Championships event the following week in Mexico, an event held at Doral in past years.
That would leave his last likely tune-up for the year’s first major, the Masters on April 6-9 at Augusta National, as the Arnold Palmer Invitational three weeks ahead of the battle for the Green Jacket. Woods has won eight times at the Bay Hill event.
Woods has not won a major since the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines and has not won any event since the WGC Bridgestone Invitational in 2013.
In his return event, Woods fired a four-under-par 284 to finish 15th in the 18-man Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. A second-round 65 and flashes of the form that made him a superstar added to the drama of his comeback but a closing 76 showed he needed more consistency in his ball striking.
“What I did at the Hero World Challenge was a positive step,” Woods said. “I just need to keep building off that and eliminate the simple mistakes I made.
“My good stuff was really good, which is a great sign.”
Woods said he has worked harder than ever before to make his latest comeback after failed returns from prior naggingleg, knee and back injuries.
“My love for the game never left. It’s just that the body would not allow me to play,” Woods said.
“Now my body is allowing me to do it again. Combine that with the amount of support I have received from so many people, and the help I’ve had from players and friends, and there is great reason for optimism.”
Presidential putting
Woods said on Thursday he was impressed with how far Donald Trump can hit a golf ball in his first public comments about his Dec 23 round with the US president-elect.
The two played at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach about three weeks after Woods made his comeback.
“What most impressed me was how far he hits the ball at 70 years old,” Woods wrote on his website. “He takes a pretty good lash.”
Woods didn’t go into details about conversations with Trump, purportedly a 2.8 handicapper, over the south Florida layout.
“Our discussion topics were wide-ranging; it was fun,” Woods said.
“We both enjoyed the bantering, bickering and needling. I also shared my vision for golf and what I’m trying to do.”
Woods made it sound like he didn’t take any money off Trump, who is set to be inaugurated as the 45th US president on Jan 20.
“We didn’ t have a match and played for fun,” Woods said. “I was testing drivers and fairway woods and changed some settings. I think he enjoyed seeing the difference in shots when you experiment.”
Woods has some knowledge about US presidents and their golf games. The 79-time PGA Tour winner played alongside current US president Barack Obama in February 2013 and has also played with two other former American leaders.
“I’ve now had the privilege of playing golf with Mr Trump, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama and I appreciate the opportunity,” Woods said.
I am working hard to sharpen my game for 2017 and my goal is simple: to win. Winning takes care of itself.” Tiger Woods