SYDNEY, (Reuters) – Tiger Woods is convinced he is finally in position to begin his rise to the top of world golf again but he will have to beat a world class field at the Australian Open this week if he is to end his two-year title drought.
With the Presidents Cup following next week in Melbourne, the 107-year-old tournament has attracted one of its strongest fields, including eight of the world’s top 20, to compete for the modest $1.5 million purse at the Lakes Golf Course.
Fourteen-times major winner Woods is languishing at number 58 in the world after two years of personal problems and injuries but the American remains the major draw card on his return to the country where he registered his last victory at the 2009 Australian Masters.
The 35-year-old arrived in Australia amid a media frenzy caused by a racist remark made by his former caddie Steve Williams and, having met and received an apology from the New Zealander on Tuesday, hopes a line has been drawn under the incident.
That will leave the former world number one clear to continue plotting the course he hopes will take him back to the top of the game he dominated for so long.
Finally fully recovered from the Achilles and knee injuries that have restricted both his ability to practise and his tournament time, Woods said he “absolutely” believed he could dominate golf again — even if it might take some time.
“If you’re Usain Bolt you don’t just go out and run in world record time, it takes time, it takes training,” he said, referring to the Jamaican Olympic sprint champion.
“Finally I’m able to do (that) and that’s what’s so exciting about these tournaments coming up as well as going into next year, I finally feel like I’m able to do that.
“I’m here to try to get a W, just like I am at every event,” he added. “But I have some work to do before that happens. I’ll take a look at the golf course, figure it out, figure out the game plan and then execute my game plan.”
FUTURE NUMBER ONE?
Woods will come up against one of the local favourites for the first time in Thursday’s opening round, having been grouped with two Australians — world number seven Jason Day and twice former champion Robert Allenby.
