Tiger Woods: the journey back is only just beginning

Tiger Woods is the bookies' favourite for the Masters. But judging from his recent dealings with journalists he still has some way to go on the comeback trail

Tiger Woods is back, according to the snappy but inadequate shorthand of those whose job it is to interpret narrow sporting narratives for a wider audience. As is usually the case when it comes to the man who was at once the most celebrated and the most unknown athlete in the world, the truth is more complex.


Certainly, Woods is back among the best half-a-dozen or so of the world's best golfers. He is back in the winner's circle after beating the field at the PGA Tour's Bay Hill Invitational last month, his first official victory anywhere in the world for almost two and a half years. And this week he is back at Augusta National Golf Club to compete in the Masters, for which he is the bookies' favourite. But for the Tiger Woods of old, the sporting demi-god and global corporate icon, the journey back is only just beginning.

Liselotte Neumann named European captain for Solheim Cup

Sweden's Liselotte Neumann is to succeed England's Alison Nicholas as Europe's Solheim Cup captain.

Nicholas stepped down after leading the Europeans to a dramatic 15-13 victory over the United States in Ireland last year.

McIlroy turns Augusta tragedy into major triumph

After a gut-wrenching collapse on the final day of the 2011 Masters, questions were asked about Rory McIlroy's mental fortitude and his ability to compete for golf's major honors.

But two months later, at June's U.S. Open, the Northern Irishman produced a resounding response to his doubters by romping to a record-breaking eight-shot victory at Congressional.

Woods' return to winning ways comes at the right time

So much for "The Big Miss".

Tiger Woods is once again golf's big hit. His five-shot win at Bay Hill was his first win on the PGA Tour since his career was turned upside down by revelations about his private life.

This victory came at the start of a week in which the book written by his former coach Hank Haney is published. "The Big Miss" is the most revealing account yet of Woods' life.

But the former world number one has spiked its guns with his dramatic return to winning ways. America loves a story of redemption and Woods has ensured that now the talk will be of his golf more than the revelations contained in Haney's book.

And the even more significant aspect of the timing of this victory is that it came in Woods' final outing before he challenges for a fifth Masters green jacket. He has sent a powerful message to the golfing world and to himself that he is back where he belongs at the top of the game.

Of course there are no guarantees. In 2009, as he unwittingly headed towards the car crash that prompted his private life being laid bare, Woods won in each of his last appearances before majors and on all four occasions failed to go on to add to his tally of grand slam titles.

"Woods won't succeed another major"

Tiger Woods

Greg Norman conceives Tiger Woods no longer has the focusing needed to win another major championship.

Norman said in an interview that will be published in the November subject of Golf Magazine that Woods has too much distraction now and lacks the "street smarts" needed to add to his 14 majors.

His previous major win came at the 2008 US Open and he has not won a tournament since the full gory facts of his sex scandal broke in November 2009.

"Woods, when he dominated, had a single shot approach," Norman said.

"It was merely about the golf.

"Now there are so a lot of distractions and people are looking things that are wrong with Tiger now, so he's got to deal with that on a day-to-day basis, like every other mortal has to do, right?

Greg Norman

"In our lives, in our business, we all have to be answerable for our actions. It's very hard for him to have that focusing. And the more he shuts people off, the worse it gets."

"He feels everything's OK because his world is so cocooned," he said.

Norman added: "Well, merely look at [Woods'] body language."

"He doesn't hold his head up anymore, he's got his eyes down, and he’s trying to keep his eyes away from the camera, right?"

Norman, a former world no.1 and holder of two major titles, will captain the international team at the Presidents Cup in Australia this November.

Tiger Woods tumbling down world golf rankings

Tiger woods in press conference

Tiger Woods is out of the world's top 20 for the first time since January 1997.

The man who is expected to declare later this week that he is returning to action at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational on Thursday, held the number one spot for more than 11 years in 10 different spells has not played since May 12 because of knee and Achilles tendon hurts.

He has dropped from eighth to 21st in the golf rankings in that time and last Wednesday announced on his website that he will not have New Zealand caddie Steve Williams by his side on his return.

"I think it's time for a change," he said without naming a replacement.

Sad Tiger woods

In a television interview in his home country Williams, with Woods for 13 of his 14 major wins and surprised by the decision, said: "You could say I've wasted the last two years of my life. I've stuck with Tiger and been incredibly loyal.

"I'm not disappointed I've been fired - that's part of the job - but the timing is extraordinary."

Referring to the sex scandal that rocked sport at the end of 2009 Williams also stated: "I, along with a lot of people, lost a lot of respect for Tiger.

Disappointed Tiger woods

"I pointed out before his return at The Masters at Augusta in 2010 that he had to earn back my respect."

Meanwhile, Sergio Garcia has earned a place in next week's world championship by keeping his place in the game's top 50.

Back to form with two consecutive top-10 finishes in majors and a play-off defeat in Germany in between, Garcia is 48th going into this week's Greenbrier Classic in West Virginia.

Alex Noren's runaway win in Sweden moved him up from 92nd to 70th, but he already had a place in Akron thanks to his Wales Open victory last month.

Latest leading positions in the world golf rankings:

Position	Name	Points
1.	Luke Donald	9.72
2.	Lee Westwood	8.33
3.	Martin Kaymer	7.26
4.	Rory McIlroy	7.06
5.	Steve Stricker	6.94
6.	Phil Mickelson	6.27
7.	Dustin Johnson	5.75
8.	Jason Day	5.44
9.	Matt Kuchar	5.38
10.	Nick Watney	5.24
11.	Charl Schwartzel	5.21
12.	Graeme McDowell	5.20
13.	Bubba Watson	4.77
14.	KJ Choi	4.71
15.	Paul Casey	4.62
16.	Ian Poulter	4.45
17.	Adam Scott	4.05
18.	Hunter Mahan	3.78
19.	Robert Karlsson	3.75
20.	Retief Goosen	3.67

Tiger Woods to meet with Dubai Properties on stalled golf project

Former world No.1 golfer Tiger Woods said he will meet this week with Dubai Properties Group to discuss the future of the stalled Dubai golf development bearing his name.

Woods, who is in the emirate for the start of the 2011 Dubai Desert Classic tournament, said the future of the multi-billion dollar project remained unclear.

"A lot of it depends on what Dubai Properties want to do going forward. And we have a few meetings set up this week," he told reporters.

DPG, a unit of debt-hit Dubai Holding, confirmed last week it had suspended work on the 55 million sq ft Tiger Woods Dubai in light of the emirate’s real estate slump.

A property boom in Dubai collapsed at the end of 2008 when it was hit by the global financial crisis and the Gulf state's debt crisis.

"This decision was based on current market conditions that do not support high-end luxury real estate. A decision will be made in the future when to restart the project," DPG said.

Original plans for the course included 287 luxury villas and mansions, a boutique hotel and a clubhouse. The course, designed by Woods, was due to be completed by September 2009.

The last update, issued by Dubai Properties in February last year, said construction had stalled at the eighth hole.

The developer said in November 2007 that Woods planned to build a 16,500 sq ft mansion overlooking the golf course that would include a gym, theater, library and pool.

At the time, villas on the luxury project were selling for between $12m and $23m.

Dubai Properties said it may revisit the project in the future and would retain its deal with the golfer.

"We maintain a good relationship with Tiger Woods and his organisation and will retain our commercial agreement together," the company said.

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Hedwall edges Ko in NSW Open

One of the most exciting prospects in professional golf has confirmed her promise with a victory in her very first event as a professional. Sweden's 21 year old Caroline Hedwall was the beneficiary of a two shot swing at the final hole of the Bing Lee Samsung New South Wales Women's Open at the Oatlands Golf Club in Sydney, winning the event by one shot over the stunning 13 year old New Zealander Lydia Ko.

Hedwall birdied the final hole from 15 feet and watched as Ko three putted for bogey. The 13 year old would have become the youngest player to win an event on any of the major tours in women's golf but clearly her time will come.

Hedwall completed a fine amateur career in collegiate golf last year, her time in the US culminating in a victory at the NCAA Championship. She was unable to earn full status on the LPGA Tour but she blitzed the field at the Ladies European Tour qualifying and appears to have a great career ahead of her.

Korean born Ko is now based in Auckland and is a New Zealand citizen. She continues to confound the golfing world with her exploits at such a young age and must surely go on to follow in the footsteps of the many other Koreans who play with such success on the world stage.

Defending champion Stephanie Na did well in her attempt to win the event for the third time finishing alone in third position one shot ahead of Sarah Kemp, Katherine Hull, Kristie Smith and American Ryan O'Toole. Na earns the second prize-money because of Ko's amateur status.

The ALPG Tour now moves to Canberra for this week's Actew AGL Royal Canberra Classic

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India to promote golf tourism

Minister of Culture and HUPA Kumari Selja on Friday said that tourism ministry is making efforts to promote golf as a niche tourism product and also position India, as a preferred golfing destination in the region.

In her inaugural address at a workshop to promote Golf Tourism here, Selja said: "This would not only showcase its beautiful golf courses but also the diverse tourism attractions that we have for any tourist."

"This will enable the government to break the October to March Syndrome that affects India Tourism particularly in the case of foreign tourist arrivals," she added.

She further said India has several golf courses of international standard. Further, golf events held in India also attract domestic and international tourists.

"With international tourists expected to grow in the next few years, it is important that India has the right product to meet the need of the visitors," she added.

She said that according to golf experts 52 per cent of traveling golfers are likely to take two or more golfing holidays in a year and they spend on an average, 33 per cent more on their holidays as compared to regular holiday makers.

"It is stated that 70-78 per cent golfers would be prepared to visit a new golfing destination and this community represents the wealthiest 50 per cent of all golfers," she added.

The objective of this workshop is to evolve a road map for formulating strategies for development and promotion of golf tourism in India.

During this workshop the participants comprising golf clubs, corporate, travel trade representatives, professional golfers, golf event managers, would discuss and propose suggestions which will guide the Ministry of Tourism in its future course of action to position India as a leading golf destination in the region. (ANI)

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Laird looks forward to masters

Finishing dead last at an event is no cause for celebration, but for Scottish golfer Martin Laird, September's US Tour Championship was still special.

Just being among the 30-strong elite field in Atlanta (not even Tiger Woods managed it) meant that Laird had qualified for a debut at golf's most glamorous tournament - The Masters at Augusta next April.

His first appearance among the azaleas and dogwood will come at the age of 28 and that alone tells you this has been no meteoric rise like that of Rory McIlroy, Martin Kaymer or Matteo Manassero.

But Laird has done enough in the last two seasons to suggest he could be one of the stars of 2011.

The Glaswegian, still relatively unknown on this side of the Atlantic after going to college in the States and staying there, began last year 268th in the world but has made it all the way into the top 50.

He has also become the first Scottish winner on the US Tour since Sandy Lyle at the 1988 Masters - and there could so easily have been two more victories this season.

Matt Kuchar came up with a wondrous shot to beat him in sudden death at the first of the FedEx Cup play-offs - Laird had three-putted the last - and then in the defence of his Las Vegas title Jonathan Byrd produced a hole-in-one no less at the fourth play-off hole.

"I'm not a goal-setter. My goal is just to get better every year and I feel like I've done that," Laird said.

"The only thing I have felt has been holding me back has been my putting and since I started working with Dave Stockton Jnr it's been good.

"I feel like if I keep that up and keep my ball-striking where it was or even get it a little better I know I can move way up the world rankings and start challenging in majors and things.

"You look at guys like Kaymer and (Graeme) McDowell winning, it gives you motivation to be up there with them."

Just as US Open champion McDowell did, he really blossomed as a player in his college days - Colorado in his case - but while the Northern Irishman then won only his fourth European Tour event, it was a long time before Laird's professional career had lift-off.

"My first year on the Nationwide Tour (2005) I played terribly and lost my card," he recalls.

In 19 starts he had only one top-25 finish and six missed cuts in his last seven tournaments left him with earnings for the year of less than $19,000 (£11,500).

On his return to the circuit in 2007, however, he won over a quarter of a million dollars and on graduating to the main Tour the money alone has been an indicator of his progress - more than $850,000 two years ago, $1.3million last season and $2.1million this.

The better Laird does in the US, the more chance there is of him adding to his rare appearances in Europe so far, especially once Ryder Cup qualifying begins in September.

His European Tour debut did not come until last year's Scottish Open. He came 10th after starting with a 65, but has already bettered that with a fifth place at October's Dunhill Links Championship.

In the Open though he has made two early exits, crashing out of St Andrews this summer with a nightmare second-round 83, and desperately wants to improve on that at Sandwich in July.

The Dunhill was a big confidence-booster in that regard.

"I think I was paying the Old Course a little too much respect at the Open. I wanted to come back and almost prove to myself that I can play links golf because my record was not very good.

"I definitely can control any ball flight a little better now and that's something that's good going forward."

Augusta is the ultimate examination of that and in April Laird finally has the chance to take that test.

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Mat Rogers' golf course mishap

Luckily, the incident occurred in the pursuit of a good cause and no one was hurt.

The vehicle in question was the golf buggy transporting Mat Rogers, his son and a friend around the golf course at Links Hope Island on the Gold Coast, as they took part in Rogers' Celebrity Golf Classic to raise funds for their charity, 4ASD Kids.

And the only damage was to Rogers' pride as he surveyed the upturned cart, marooned in a bunker.

Rogers and his wife Chloe Maxwell were hoping to raise more than $300,000 across the weekend for 4ASD Kids, which is dedicated to supporting children with autism spectrum disorders, so they can receive the treatment that will give them the best chance of a normal life.

There were celebrities galore at the charity weekend, and they were digging deep into their pockets. But it wasn't all smooth sailing for the Maxwells, who were constantly battling with the weather at Sanctuary Cove.

Newsreader Sandra Sully was back again for the event, which coincided with her family's Christmas celebration.

"I was meant to start my holidays a couple of days earlier but Oprah was in town," she said.

"It's a shame about the weather. I call my partner the rainman because when I bring him to Queensland it rains."

Australia's Next Top Model judge Charlotte Dawson flew in for the event and showcased her singing talent when she belted out some Guns N' Roses at the Quiksilver Beach party, while Matthew Johns, accompanied by his wife Trish, had a "dance-off" with the kids.

Comedian Corinne Grant was another special guest as were former NRL footballer Gorden Tallis and Titans Greg Bird, Scott Prince and William Zillman.

South Africa golf ace among Laureus nominees

Oosthuizen has been built in the World Breakthrough of the Year category where he is competing with German soccer star Thomas Muller and French sprinter Christophe Lemaitre.

Also included are the England T20 Cricket team, who won their 1st global trophy in limited- overs cricket this year against Australia, the current World Cup and Champions Trophy winners.

South Africa's Oosthuizen made a name for himself across the globe after winning the British Open Championship at St Andrews in July, which was his 1st Major win.

In March 2010, he won his 1st European Tour event at the Open de Andalucia de Golf. He also won the 2010 Masters Par 3 Contest.

Oosthuizen's early career was supported financially for 3 years by Ernie Els's foundation.

In other awards, 50-year-old Merlene Ottey of Slovenia has been nominated for the World Comeback of the Year award. The former Jamaican sprinter became the oldest woman still to compete in the European championship in Barcelona this year.

Fellow athlete Tyson Gay is also chosen for the same award. Sportsman of the Year nominees includes Lionel Messi, Rafael Nadal, Sebastian Vettel, Sachin and Diego Forlan.

Spain is tipped to win the World Team of the Year award after their historic win of the 2010 Fifa World Cup. Italian soccer giants Inter Milan, who became the 1st winners of the Serie A, Italian Coppa Cup and European Champions League in one year, is chosen for the same award.