Woods primed for return to golf course
By Brad Townsend
The Dallas Morning News
ORLANDO, Fla. - In a golf cart, he rode to a makeshift driving
range at Disney World on Sunday, as "Eye of the Tiger"
blared on the P.A. system and 200 disadvantaged kids shrieked
in delight.
With that entrance, Tiger Woods made two statements:
- If his two-hour clinic Sunday for Orlando-area kids is any
indication, Woods' next clinic, May 12 in Dallas, will leave a
lasting impression on a few dozen Dallas-area kids.
- After taking two weeks off to be with his father, Earl, who
is recovering from open-heart surgery, Woods is primed for his
return to competitive golf. He is playing in this week's Bay Hill
Invitational in Orlando, not far from his home in Islesworth.
"My father's health has improved to a state where he doesn't
really need me around," Woods said. "I was able to get
back to practicing and getting ready."
Earl Woods had surgery a few days before the Los Angeles Nissan
Open began Feb. 27, then had follow-up surgery after complications
arose.
Earl Woods is recovering at home in California. Otherwise,
as chairman of the Tiger Woods Foundation, he would have attended
Sunday's clinic. It is too soon to know whether he will be well
enough to attend the Dallas clinic.
Tiger seemed at ease Sunday while working with the kids, allowing
them a 45-minute question-and-answer session, then putting on
an eye-opening exhibition.
But Woods' voice cracked when one of the kids asked whether
his father taught him golf.
"Yeah, my dad did," Woods said. "My dad taught
me a lot of things in life. ... It gets a little tough right now
when I talk about my dad. He had a few complications after the
surgery that were awfully tough.
"That's why I had such a tough time playing that (Nissan)
tournament. I played in it solely because if I played well, my
dad would have something to look forward to seeing in the afternoon,
from the hospital bed."
Woods tied for 20th in the Nissan. After his father's condition
improved, Woods' thoughts returned to golf. He wasn't comfortable
with his swing during the Nissan tournament, so he and teacher
Butch Harmon addressed the glitches.
"The other day, I practiced from 8 o'clock in the morning
until dark," Woods said. "Butch and I have been working
on a few things I won't share with you because it's pretty technical.
But, overall, my ball striking is much better."
Woods said he also needed these past two weeks to step back
from competitive golf. In just his seventh month on the PGA tour,
the 21-year-old Woods is the focal point of every tournament he
enters.
For instance, Arnold Palmer is Bay Hill's host, and this will
be the first tournament he has played since his January prostate
cancer surgery. But Woods received most of the attention during
Tuesday's Bay Hill pro-am. Not all of it was flattering.
Woods was asked about the fact the U.S. Golf Association has
received several critical letters about his emotional displays
on the course.
"On the golf course, I think everyone should behave properly,"
Woods said. "I'm not saying what I do is wrong or right.
I'm just saying obviously I get a little angry at times, and I
should be able to control it a little better. For that, I am wrong.
"But if you're going to be critical to me, be critical
to all the players. Be fair about it. A lot of media is taking
pot shots at me, without taking pot shots at other players."
Woods is fast learning about life on the PGA tour, and life
in general. His father's health, and Sunday's clinic, may have
helped him put things in perspective. He couldn't help but laugh
Sunday when a young girl at his clinic asked if he has a girlfriend.
"No, I don't," he said. "To be honest with you,
it's very difficult to have one. It's like saying, 'Sorry, honey,
I'll see you in six weeks.'
"That works awfully well."
(c) 1997, The Dallas Morning News.
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