Tiger Woods laughs off tough questions at Celtic Manor
Tiger Woods today braved the press at Celtic Manor for the first time this week, but the world No. 1 was at his most impenetrable.
At least Woods showed flashes of humour when faced with tough questions, but the 34-year-old still clearly prefers to let his golf do the talking.
After turning up late for today's briefing, Woods was genial but hardly generous with his answers. Away from the usual glad-handing about how it was good to be back at the Ryder Cup, Woods told the press pack: "It's always exciting to make the team. I got a taste of it in 1997, and it's neat to be part of a team. This year I tried to make the team on points but it didn't occur, but here I am."
So what did Woods like about the event? "We always have a great time on the Ryder Cup. It's been great, you get to know some of the guys on the team, the bonding that occurs, Phil [Mickelson], Jim [Furyk] and I have been on the team since 1997. It's always fun to get in the room and hang out."
We'll let the claim that Woods enjoys hanging out with Mickelson pass for now. What else was up with the 14-time major winner? What did he make of the news that Rory McIlroy had publicly said he was looking forward to playing Woods? "Me too." Care to elaborate? "No."
McIlroy had earlier back-pedalled from that remark, explaining in his own press conference: "I said those things the week after he shot 18 over at Akron. He's still fantastic and I'm sure he'll get back." Maybe he was trying to placate an angry Woods, though the 21-year-old added later: "I suppose a little bit of that [Tiger's] aura is probably gone."
McIlroy may have been anxious to avoid offending Woods, but at least the Ulsterman was giving us something. Back to the Woods presser, and difficult inquiries were being diverted with misinformation, or jokey answers, but rarely any substance. At this point, no-one really expects any more from Woods, which is probably why one journalist decided to throw caution to the wind with the following gem.
"You don't win majors any more. Your world No. 1 spot is in imminent danger of being lost. Now that you're practically an ordinary golfer, is the Ryder Cup the most important thing to you?"
Accurate, but highly impolite. At least Woods could laugh the query off, telling the journalist: "I remember at the Open you were after me there too," though an actual answer to the question wasn't forthcoming.
Asked about how he had been received by the other players’ wives, Woods circumvented the question entirely with the non sequitur: "We're here as a team. We're here to compete and win the Ryder Cup."
And when quizzed about who he was likely to be partnered with Woods was similarly evasive, telling a reporter: "I got one out of 11 so we'll see. Think I'm gonna tell you that? Come on!"
Fair enough. Here's an idea; if we stop with the daft questions, maybe Tiger can stop with the terrible answers?
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