- The Players Championship
Masters woe hit Tiger hard
Tiger Woods has admitted it took him longer than normal to shake off his Masters disappointment.
Woods was in a commanding position deep into his second round, but he suffered outrageous misfortune when a brilliant approach on the 15th struck the pin and spun back into the water. That cost him two shots, while he subsequently picked up a further two-shot penalty for dropping his ball in the wrong place.
So instead of in all probability taking a lead into the weekend, Woods found himself on the back foot and he was unable to regain the lost ground - ultimately finishing in a tie for fourth.
Woods is famed for his mental strength, but it seems the setback and subsequent furore over whether he should have been disqualified for dropping in the wrong place hit him hard.
"When I was away from it I reflected on the things I did right, but also the things I did wrong," Woods said. "Unfortunately, I hit a good shot and caught a bad break. I still had an opportunity over the next 36 holes to get it back but I just didn't do it."
Woods is putting the finishing touches to his Players Championship preparations and he is heading to Sawgrass in confident mood.
He said: "I'm very pleased with my preparation and looking forward to the event. I feel like I have done some very good work."
The Sawgrass test in Florida is one Woods is wary of, as he said: "It is one of those tricky courses where they have some very tough lines off the tee and if you are not playing well you are going to get exposed. On top of that the greens are now a lot more fiery coming into them, so that makes it even more important to hit the ball in these fairways. And if you miss these greens at all, you've got some of the weirdest, funky little shots you will ever face."
Woods put in a surprise appearance at the Met Gala in New York, accompanying new girlfriend Lindsey Vonn. The world No. 1 is rarely seen at such events, which was a show of real support to skiing great Vonn.
"It was something Lindsey wanted to try to grow her brand," Woods said. "She has come out with a new perfume and make-up line, so that was a big thing for her and I am supporting it."