Tiger aims to get out of the Woods at Western
By NANCY ARMOUR AP Sports Writer
LEMONT, Ill. (AP) - Not even the Nike advertising gurus could
have come up with something this good: a victorious Tiger Woods
strolling up the 18th fairway at last year's Western Open with
thousands of fans in tow.
Fast forward a year. The crowds are still there, but Woods'
game isn't nearly as commanding. He's got just one victory in
his last 19 starts, and he wasn't a factor in last week's U.S.
Open. He's struggling, as much as Tiger Woods can.
What better time for Woods to return to the Western Open, which
starts Thursday at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club's Dubsdread
course in suburban Chicago.
"For some reason, I've always loved this site," the
defending champion said. "I've always felt comfortable here.
... It's easier to have your confidence come back if you're struggling
and get it back because you've come to a course that sets up well
for you."
Woods knows exactly what's wrong with his game. He thinks he's
driving better and with more control. Even his bad shots feel
- and look - better than they did last year.
But instead of attacking the greens, he's playing more cautiously.
Rather than firing straight at the pin and ending up with close
putts, he's going for safe shots that simply get him on the green.
"I guess I am not as comfortable with my swing as I was
last year at this time or the majority of last year," he
said. "I'm playing a little more conservative, a little more
safe. Just kind of firing toward the safe side a lot.
"Your golf swing is not always going to be good,"
he added. "You can always work on it, and, hopefully, it
will evolve to where it's good, to where it's more consistent."
A few days at Cog Hill could be just what he needs. Woods said
the 7,037-yard, par-72 course is better suited to his game than
the tight Olympic Course. Cog Hill has some tight holes, but it
also has plenty of long, wide-open holes perfect for Woods' booming
drives.
But what Woods likes most is the comfortable feeling he has
when he walks onto the course.
"Certain putts out there I already know instinctively
which way it goes," he said. "Even though it looks to
go left, it goes right. Little things like that I've kind of picked
up."
Having already won on this course helps, too.
"I know what it takes to win at this site," he said.
"Plus, also you have some pretty good flashbacks, pretty
good memories which you can probably recall."
Like his walk up the 18th, with thousands of people following
him. That picture is everywhere Woods turns this week - on billboards,
on maps, on the program.
As much as his 12-stroke victory at the Masters, that scene
has become symbolic of Tigermania.
"I heard them. I heard the stomping of the feet, but I
was not about to look back," he said. "When I got up
on the green, though, that's when I looked back. That's what was
pretty impressive."
And even if he doesn't have his best game, Woods is still the
one Western Open fans want to see. U.S. Open winner Lee Janzen
is playing, as is runner-up Payne Stewart. Masters winner Mark
O'Meara and British Open champion Justin Leonard also are in the
field.
Tom Watson, who has played in 24 of the last 26 Western Opens,
pulled out earlier this week with a shoulder injury.
"It's an honor when you are in that kind of position,
people think that highly of you, want to come out and watch you
play," Woods said. "I'd rather have it this way than
people say, 'Tiger who?' and 'I don't want to watch him, he can't
play.' "
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