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Tiger ready for St Andrews mission
Golf, 11:23, July 7, 2010 ,
Tiger Woods is confident ahead of next week's Open at St Andrews despite admitting he will not play any links golf in practice.
The 34-year-old world number one has usually followed a similar regime ahead of the year's third major by playing on various Irish links courses. However, Woods admitted that, following his two-day appearance at the JP McManus Pro-Am in Limerick, he is returning to Florida and will fly directly to Scotland from the United States by the start of next week.
When asked why he is diverting from his usual schedule, he said: "I need to get home. See my kids."
Woods also compared his marital difficulties to Swedish model Elin Nordgren, which resulted in him taking five months out of golf at the turn of this year, to the death of his father.
"There are times in one's life when things get put in perspective," he said.
"One being when my father passed and obviously what I've been going through lately."
Looking forward to the Open, Woods, who finished finished fourth in both the Masters and the US Open at Pebble Beach this year, is confident of securing a third straight win at St Andrews, despite a disappointing joint 46th place in last weekend's AT&T National in Pennsylvania.
He added: "I felt I made some good strides last week, I drove it great last week, I just putted terrible and finished way down the board.
"Something I need to work on is my lag putting (long, well-weighted putts) and there will be a lot of long putts at St Andrews.
"This is where it all started and to win at the home of golf, it has such a special feeling."