Tiger comes out of woods

London: Tiger Woods declared his tie for 32nd at the Greenbrier Classic a “very positive week" and sounded genuinely excited about his prospects ahead of this month’s British Open at St Andrews starting on July 16.

 

Woods has won twice at the Old Course, in 2000 and 2005, but it would be premature to suggest his game is quite ready to be etched on the Claret Jug once more. Still, after signing his first bogey-free card in 56 rounds on the PGA Tour, he had reason for tempered optimism after finishing six strokes behind winner Danny Lee in West Virginia on Sunday.

 

A day after six-times major champion Nick Faldo concluded that Woods was still prone to blocking drives under pressure, the American former World No.1 was singing a different tune.

 

“It’s the best I hit it in a long, long time,” the 14-times major champion told reporters after signing for a three-under 67.

 

“This could have been one of those special rounds. I really could have gone low. I had full control over all clubs. I hit it great. I had shapes both ways, right-to-left, left-to-right. If I just made a couple of putts, this week could have been completely different,” he added.