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Woods shrugs off weekend woes

ESPN staff
June 18, 2012
Tiger Woods finished the US Open in a tie for 21st © Getty Images
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Tiger Woods insists he is "excited" about the state of his game, despite blowing a fine chance to triumph at the US Open over the weekend.

Woods had a share of the 36-hole lead at the year's second major, which was won by Webb Simpson, but ended up finishing in a tie for 21st having shot 75 on Saturday and 73 on Sunday.

On the final day, his chances of ending a four-year major drought effectively went up in smoke when he played the first six holes in six over.

His final placing was his worst at a US Open as a pro in which he completed 72 holes - but he sees no reason for any pessimism.

"There's a lot of positives this week," Woods said. "I hit the ball really well. Unfortunately I just didn't have the speed of the greens until today [Sunday].

"But overall, the way I struck the golf ball, the way I controlled it all week is something that's very positive going forward, and if I just would have hung in there little bit better [on Saturday] and missed it on the correct side a couple times then I would have been in a better position going into today.

"I'm excited about the consistency of [my game]. And how well I hit the ball all week, really. I didn't really miss it that badly this week. The misses were just a fraction off, which is great. That's what we want to have happen. And this golf course is just so demanding that a fraction off you pay a price."

Meanwhile, in the world rankings, Simpson has climbed to No. 5 after his maiden major win.

World Rankings: 1. Luke Donald (ENG), 2. Rory McIlroy (NIR), 3. Lee Westwood (ENG), 4. Tiger Woods (USA), 5. Webb Simpson (USA), 6. Bubba Watson (USA), 7. Matt Kuchar (USA), 8. Jason Dufner (USA), 9. Justin Rose (ENG), 10. Hunter Mahan (USA), 11. Graeme McDowell (NIR), 12. Steve Stricker (USA), 13. Martin Kaymer (GER), 14. Dustin Johnson (USA), 15. Phil Mickelson (USA), 16. Charl Schwartzel (SAF), 17. Adam Scott (USA), 18. Zach Johnson (USA), 19. Rickie Fowler (USA), 20. Louis Oosthuizen (SAF).

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