Woods says he's getting better and better --
and better
By STEPHEN WADE
AP Sports Writer
VIRGINIA WATER, England (AP) -- Is Tiger Woods a better player
than he was a year ago?
"No doubt about it," the world's top-ranked player
said Saturday, listing better control, a wider variety of shots,
fewer three putts and a better mental game as his major improvements.
Woods, in the final of Sunday's World Match Play Championship
against his pal Mark O'Meara, smiled broadly as he talked about
polishing his game.
"I can't even describe how much better of a player I am
physically and mentally," he said. "The shots I can
hit now, there's no way I could have played last year.
"Last year there's no way I could have hit the shots I
did last week at St. Andrews (in the Dunhill Cup). My swing plane
wasn't able to hit the ball with that trajectory and that spin.
"Today (Saturday) I hit some very low shots. I can hold
it either way."
Woods, a four-time winner last year on the PGA Tour -- but
only once in '98 -- said his new putting philosophy might take
another year or two to produce results.
"Last year I was a very consistent putter," he said,
which was a key -- and surprising part -- as he won the Masters.
"This year I have been very streaky. I'm not making as many
putts, but I'm not three-putting as much.
"I'm dying more putts at the hole. I'm not running them
by like I used to. Consequently, I think my lines are just a little
off because I'm not used to that. All my life I've been very aggressive.
"I just decided over the long haul it will be much better
for me if I start dying some putts and not leaving myself with
four- or five-footers at every hole.
"There have been a few tournaments where I have gone three
weeks without three-putting. I could never have done that last
year."
Woods also said his mental game has improved since turning
pro two years ago, and invoked the words of one of the game's
greats.
"Like Ben Hogan said, you never master the mental part
of the game," Woods said. "I think that's so true.
"But I know I have so much I can improve on."
A scary thought.
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