CRY OF THE TIGER
Woods crashes out but insists he will have a Major say again as Johnson takes control
DEFIANT Tiger Woods insists he still has what it takes after missing the cut at the US Open.
Despite yesterday’s setback in his continued comeback from a fourth spell of back surgery, he was adamant he can add to his 14 Majors.
It was not health issues which contributed to his failure at Shinnecock Hills, but off-colour putting which saw him follow up Thursday’s dreadful opening 78 with a two-over-par 72.
That combined 10 over bombed out Woods at the halfway stage, along with the likes of Sergio Garcia, Jon Rahm and Martin Kaymer.
While Woods was frustrated at being way off the standard of his playing partner Dustin Johnson – who moved into the lead early in the day with a threeunder-par 67 – the 42-yearold remains convinced he will soon be back in the mix.
Asked if he could win another Major, Woods said: “Absolutely. Have you seen the way I’ve been swinging?
“Unfortunately, it’s what I’ve done the last few events – I just haven’t putted well.
“If I’d have putted like I did the beginning of the year combined with this ball striking, that would be ideal.
“I’m hitting it just fine. I just haven’t made any putts and then, importantly, I haven’t made those key ones to keep the momentum going.
“So I’m not very happy with the way I played. I’m 10 over par so you can’t be too happy and too excited about that.
“But these Majors aren’t easy. I mean, I’ve won a few of them over the course of my career, and they’re the hardest fields and usually the hardest setups.
“So they’re meant to be testers and you don’t win Major championships by kind of slapping all around the place and missing putts.”
Johnson underlined his world No.1 status with an impressive display of power, to be four under.
Woods paid tribute, saying: “Dustin was in complete control of what he’s doing.
“He’s hitting the ball so flush and so solid. I know it’s windy, it’s blustery, it was raining early, but he’s hitting right through it and he’s got beautiful speed on the greens.”
England’s Tommy Fleetwood (above) carded a four-under-par 66 to be one over for the tournament and stay in the hunt.