Tiger Woods taking the positives but Greg Norman is less upbeat
It's been the worst year of his professional life - and 2010 probably hasn't been a barrel of laughs for Tiger Woods off the course either. But the 34-year-old maintains he's managed to take something positive from the whole sorry experience.
"Certainly I'm a lot more at peace now," said Woods. "Everyone's getting used to the new living conditions. The kids are adjusting. I think everyone's certainly more at peace, and so am I, too.
"I learned a lot about myself, and I learned how things went wrong, why they went wrong, and had to take a pretty deep and introspective look at myself, and there weren't a lot of things I liked about it. But I had to do it, and I did it and grateful that I did. I think that I come from a much better place, much more grounded place now than I ever have before."
Woods was speaking at a press event to promote his Chevron World Challenge, which takes place between December 2nd and 5th, and even if the 14-time major winner is never going to open up to a roomful of journalists, he was at least willing to speak in general terms about the last 12 months.
On keeping his personal problems free from his professional life, for instance, Woods offered this: "There have been times, obviously, throughout my career where [the personal and the professional] wasn't in balance, and trying to get everything back to an equilibrium again was always the goal and always the task.
"I've had great people around me to help me. People I can talk to and trust and confide in, so that makes it a lot easier."
Elsewhere Woods spoke about the encouraging performance of his last round, during the singles at the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor when he saw off Francesco Molinari in convincing fashion.
"I felt like that was coming. I had played well in spurts like that by the time we played an entire round or match at that level. But I've been hitting shots like that intermittently throughout the matches.
"I just put it together for that one match. It was nice to make a few putts and just keep the momentum going. It was nice to get through that match because I was two down through two early. Actually I was two down through five. So ended up turning that match around and making that many birdies and getting one eagle in there was a lot of fun."
Woods also voiced confidence in his improving game, telling reporters: "My game's coming around, the way I played at the Ryder Cup - I know I have two more events prior to the Chevron event. Hopefully, I can get two more W's before I get to Chevron."
The current world No. 1 confirmed his intention to play a heavier schedule next year, explaining: "I will play more times than I did this year. I didn't quite play that many events this year, and I'd like to get back to a full playing schedule next year and be ready for the big events again. Certainly, hopefully, get more W's than I did this year."
And speaking on the supposed aura of invincibility that has been lacking in recent months, Woods said: "I don't know if it was intimidation. I just felt that when I was playing well, I was always going to be tough to beat. I just haven't gotten to that level in a while now. I had a good year last year and won a few times. This year wasn't exactly the same success. But I like where my game is headed."
While Woods is heartened by his most recent play, though, Greg Norman has questioned the player's ability to overtake Jack Nicklaus' world record haul of 18 major victories, telling reporters: "He's a good enough player to do it, there's no question about it. It's just that as more time goes on, those chances start to dwindle more and more."
The veteran Australian and former world No. 1 believes Woods can regain his game - but perhaps not the supreme confidence that the player has enjoyed over the last decade and a half.
Speaking at a press conference to promote his Shark Shootout event in Florida, Norman added: "Technically he'll get his game back to where he'll be able to hit the ball the way he likes to hit the ball, and he'll get his confidence back that way, but he has to deal with the other issues, as well, and they just compound a little bit and make life just a little bit more difficult."
"You get things thrown in your ear that you cannot block out, no matter how strong your mind is."
Woods will next be in action in early November, when he contests the HSBC Champions in Shanghai, though Lee Westwood will have overtaken the American in the world rankings by that time.
Indeed, depending on how Martin Kaymer plays at the Andalucia Valderrama Masters the week before, Woods may find himself occupying the unfamiliar position of No. 3 in the world by the start of next month.
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