The Tiger Woods whom Rocco Mediate described Tuesday as a
”
complete killer
”
was different than the Tiger Woods who met with reporters
Wednesday, escorted by a security team that included a Sheriff’s
officer.
Mediate set to defend title at Frys.com Open
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FRYS.COM OPEN: Woods ‘just happy to be playing again’
The Tiger Woods whom Rocco Mediate described Tuesday as a “complete killer” was different than the Tiger Woods who met with reporters Wednesday, escorted by a security team that included a Sheriff’s officer.
Asked what his measure of success will be at the Frys.com Open, Woods responded with his usual, “Getting a W.” But that was as close as he got to the invincible Tiger of old. At times he sounded like some of the wide-eyed, college-aged talents he is set to compete with this week at CordeValle Golf Resort.
“I’m just happy to be here,” said Woods, who last won in November 2009 — a week before that infamous Thanksgiving night — and has fallen to No. 51 in the world golf rankings. “It feels good. I want to play. Getting out there and competing is fun.”
One reporter went as far to ask Woods if he felt like a kid trying to earn respect this week.
“What, I’m not a kid?” Woods said, drawing heavy laughter. “I’m just excited to play again.”
Few could have imagined ever seeing the 35-year-old winner of 14 majors play a PGA Tour Fall Series event. That becomes a reality at 12:10 p.m. Thursday when Woods tees off with reigning British Open champ Louis Oosthuizen and top-ranked amateur Patrick Cantlay.
It will feel like a blessing for Woods, who was “shut down” because of a lingering knee injury from this year’s Masters in April to the Aug. 4-7 Bridgestone Invitational. The 11-week layoff included a withdrawal after nine holes at The Players Championship in May.
“That’s not a lot of golf, and I didn’t practice a lot during that,” he said. “I used to hit 36 holes a day. … Right now I just need to get out there, hit holes, hit shots, get the feel for playing again, work my way back into playing the way I can.”
In a rare moment, Woods admitted his mental strength has “taken a hit” from his injury and his struggles to perfect a new swing with coach Sean Foley.
“I didn’t have it at The Players. I didn’t feel confident,” he said. “That was another setback.”
Woods did say he is happy with how he is progressing. He made good use of his practice time this week, finishing 1-under at Wednesday’s Frys.com Open Pro-Am. On Tuesday, Woods got in a decent round of golf with Cantlay at The Institute, John Fry’s exclusive course located in the eastern foothills of Morgan Hill.
“The greens were a lot faster than they are here,” Woods said. “I had trouble getting the ball in the hole. That’s something I’m going to have work on. If we get some good weather, guys are going to put up some good numbers, so we’ll need some birdies.”
For Woods, finishing the Frys.com Open would be considered a step forward.
“It’s easy to come back from a layoff knowing what to do. … But I’m implementing a new golf swing, too,” he said. “You have to get direction, and I haven’t got direction. I have to hit thousands of balls to do that, and it just hasn’t happened yet.”
Some say Woods will never regain the dominance he held in his sport for more than a decade, and that his major-winning days are behind him. When reminded of this Wednesday, Woods didn’t blink.
“I’ve heard it before,” he said. “And I kept winning.”
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