adminDUBAI. — Tiger Woods vowed to improve his putting after another lacklustre showing at the Dubai Desert Classic golf tournament on Sunday extended the world number one’s troubled start to 2014.The 14-times major winner birdied the last three holes for a one-under-par final round of 71 on the Majlis course, giving him an aggregate six-under 282.
But such a score left Woods an also-ran at a tournament where he vied for top billing with Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy.
“My iron game wasn’t as sharp as I’d like, I had seven lip-outs today,” Woods told reporters. “I’m definitely going to work on my putting. My light putting needs to be better than it has been… I’m hitting my lines, I just don’t have the speed right.”
Woods began brightly in Dubai, racing to four-under after nine holes of Thursday’s first round, seemingly showing few ill effects from a dire showing at California’s Torrey Pines a few days earlier where he carded 79, the second-worst round of his professional career. Yet wayward driving and then inconsistent putting saw the American make 10 birdies and eight bogeys over Dubai’s final 63 holes as he slipped out of contention.
“I made a quick easy fix to my grip the other day and from then on I drove great,” said Woods, who will now fly to Delhi for an exhibition event, his first visit to India, before returning the United States.
“I throttled back a little bit to try to get my ball back in play and just didn’t hit it as far. I’m able now to start letting it go – a couple of carries out there were in the 310-315 (yards) range. That’s back to where I should be.”
Woods also wants to improve with the wedge.
“I still need to do a bit of work chipping out of this rye grass, because I’ve been chipping out Bermuda and it’s a little different technique,” he added.
Meanwhile, Tiger Woods arrived in New Delhi yesterday for his first visit to India, where he will play a round with special guests at a private event organised by a motorcycle company.
The world number one arrived from the United Arab Emirates where he had competed in the Dubai Desert Classic, and was whisked from the VIP area at the airport under tight security.
Woods is expected to play an 18-hole round with special invitees at the heavily guarded Delhi Golf Club this morning, an event that is closed to the public and the media.
“I am afraid this is a strictly private affair,” a club official said. “Even regular members will not be allowed in unless they have been invited.”
The 14-time Major winner will play alongside Hero Motors boss Pawan Munjal and his guests that include two renowned Indian golfers, Shiv Kapur and Arjun Atwal.
Kapur, a member of the upscale Delhi Golf Club, is a regular on the European and Asian tour. Atwal is a long-time friend and PGA Tour colleague of Woods.
Media reports speculated that Woods could be earning an appearance fee worth a seven-figure dollar sum for his short trip. Despite the public and media being excluded from the event, Kapur said Woods’s presence would boost golf’s image in the cricket-mad nation.
“Tiger’s visit to India is going to make a huge impact and there is a big buzz already not only in Delhi but the whole country,” Kapur said on the sidelines of the Dubai Desert Classic last week.
“I know the members at my club are very excited and there is going to be people climbing all over the walls just to get a glimpse of Tiger.
“As everyone knows, cricket dominates sport in India. So for at least one day the world’s top golfer is going to steal all the attention away from the Sachin Tendulkars and Virender Sehwags.” — SuperGolf.
Online Reporter