'Balanced' Woods looks forward to new season
Source: Agencies |
January 28, 2011, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
TIGER Woods at Torrey Pines felt like the start of any other season on the US PGA Tour, except when he awoke at 3:30am on Wednesday and realized he had plenty of time on his hands.
Gone was the crack-of-dawn tee time in the pro-am that had belonged to him for so many years, a product of being the No. 1 player. He was 68th on the US money list last year and no longer gets first pick of the best tee times.
"I get to sleep in a little bit," Woods said. "Got up at 3:30 this morning not knowing what to do."
He isn't the defending champion, even though Woods hasn't lost at Torrey Pines since 2004. Then again, he hasn't played here since 2008 because of knee surgery, followed by an imploding personal life last year.
Woods said he was looking forward to the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines.
It's a new year, and he would just as soon forget about the last one. Woods failed to win anywhere in the world for the first time in his pro career while going through a divorce brought on by his extramarital affairs.
He also feels that he has restored a sense of balance to his life, and he's eager to see how it helps his golf.
"I think in order to play this game at a high level, it helps to have a clear mind," Woods said. "I've played at the high levels before in the past without a clear mind, but it helps to be consistent. It helps having your life in balance. Certainly, my life is much more balanced than it was in the past. That's exciting for me. I think it's exciting for my kids, and we're really looking forward to it."
Woods and Phil Mickelson are the top attractions, as always, even though it's odd to promote them as No. 3 and No. 5 in the world. Mickelson's distractions last year weren't self-inflicted. He had to cope with arthritis the second half of the season, and now can resume workouts and other preparations.
"I've been antsy to get back and play," Mickelson said. "I didn't finish the year the way I wanted to, and I want to make 2011 the year that I thought 2010 was going to be."
He also expects a different look from Woods. Mickelson played with him in the final round in Chicago last year, and noticed the speed in his swing starting to return.
"I expect that he'll be the Tiger that we've known for over a decade, unfortunately," Mickelson said with a grin.
Gone was the crack-of-dawn tee time in the pro-am that had belonged to him for so many years, a product of being the No. 1 player. He was 68th on the US money list last year and no longer gets first pick of the best tee times.
"I get to sleep in a little bit," Woods said. "Got up at 3:30 this morning not knowing what to do."
He isn't the defending champion, even though Woods hasn't lost at Torrey Pines since 2004. Then again, he hasn't played here since 2008 because of knee surgery, followed by an imploding personal life last year.
Woods said he was looking forward to the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines.
It's a new year, and he would just as soon forget about the last one. Woods failed to win anywhere in the world for the first time in his pro career while going through a divorce brought on by his extramarital affairs.
He also feels that he has restored a sense of balance to his life, and he's eager to see how it helps his golf.
"I think in order to play this game at a high level, it helps to have a clear mind," Woods said. "I've played at the high levels before in the past without a clear mind, but it helps to be consistent. It helps having your life in balance. Certainly, my life is much more balanced than it was in the past. That's exciting for me. I think it's exciting for my kids, and we're really looking forward to it."
Woods and Phil Mickelson are the top attractions, as always, even though it's odd to promote them as No. 3 and No. 5 in the world. Mickelson's distractions last year weren't self-inflicted. He had to cope with arthritis the second half of the season, and now can resume workouts and other preparations.
"I've been antsy to get back and play," Mickelson said. "I didn't finish the year the way I wanted to, and I want to make 2011 the year that I thought 2010 was going to be."
He also expects a different look from Woods. Mickelson played with him in the final round in Chicago last year, and noticed the speed in his swing starting to return.
"I expect that he'll be the Tiger that we've known for over a decade, unfortunately," Mickelson said with a grin.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
