Tiger Woods returns today at Byron Nelson Classic
By RON SIRAK AP Golf Writer
IRVING, Texas (AP) - Four hours after stumbling to a shaky
74 in the pro-am at the Byron Nelson Classic, Tiger Woods was
on the practice green rapping putt after putt, searching for a
rhythm for today's first round.
The rust that accumulated after four weeks away from competition
hung heavy on Woods' game Wednesday as he missed fairways, missed
greens and missed putts in a 4-over-par round that was far from
the brilliance he displayed in his record-setting victory at the
Masters in April.
But as Woods has shown over and over in his brief professional
career, he saves his best for when it means the most.
"Each round I'll get better and better with my mental
state. It took me about a round to get my focus and my intensity,"
he said about the last time he returned from a break this long.
And though Woods says he assumes he is going to win every tournament
he plays, it is clear the GTE Byron Nelson Classic is the beginning
of a three tournament run-up leading to the U.S. Open - just as
he gauged his game to peak for the Masters.
"I had to prove to myself that I could win a major,"
Woods said about the Masters. "I spent those weeks before
getting ready. I changed my ball flight, changed my putting strategy.
I'll probably do the same thing for the U.S. Open."
Woods faces a field this week that includes defending champion
Phil Mickelson, last week's winner Scott McCarron, the resurgent
Nick Price, Nick Faldo and Mark O'Meara.
Playing amid tight security that included several uniform police
and two plainclothes agents - one of them with Woods constantly
since Friday - the 21-year-old felt out the TPC course at the
Four Seasons Resort.
He hit his booming driver only five times - once out of bounds
- and made only one putt beyond tap-in range.
"I'll drive it right through the doglegs here," Woods
said about using his driver. "The 2-iron and 3-wood is the
smart thing to do."
Woods was hardly annoyed by his erratic play. He seemed to
enjoy being before a gallery again.
When one of his amateur partners sliced a shot wildly into
the crowd, Woods covered his head as if he could protect the person
the ball was bearing down on and tried unsuccessfully to suppress
a laugh.
Two of his playing partners sold concrete. The other two processed
animal fat. Yes, it was only the pro-am, but Tiger Woods heard
words Wednesday he likely replayed in his childhood daydreams
many times.
"On the tee," the announcer drawled into the early
morning mist, "the 1997 Masters winner ..."
The words had an almost physical effect on Woods. Deep into
composing his serious game face, he jerked his head from the ground
and watched as tournament official Jim Jordan continued the introduction.
"A three-time U.S. Junior Amateur champion, three-time
U.S. Amateur champion and four-time winner on the PGA Tour ..."
Woods stared now at the announcer - not the ground - almost
as if he were in awe of his own introduction.
"The world's most eligible bachelor," Jordan bellowed
with a flourish, "Eldrick 'Tiger' Woods."
The hundreds of fans huddled around the first tee for Woods'
7:30 a.m. pairing roared with laughter and the air rippled with
applause. The target of the gentle barb showed just a touch of
embarrassment behind his broad smile.
"To tell the truth, I really wasn't listening when he
first started," Woods said. "Then he got my attention.
That most eligible bachelor stuff, that was different."
Playing inside gallery ropes for the first time since winning
the Masters, Woods chatted with his playing partners, flirted
with a scorer and joked with his caddie Mike "Fluff"
Cowan.
"I needed the month off," Woods said, downplaying
the rust on his game. "Now I have to get back to golf."
That starts in earnest today.
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