Woods goes his own way, as always
Tiger Woods improved on a poor first-day's play at the JP McManus Pro-Am yesterday, but a slightly skittish performance at the press conference that accompanied it may linger longer in the memory of those who saw it.
Woods was willing to talk about matters on the golf course more expansively, but any allusion to his private life were dealt rather shorter shrift. One journalist who called attention to a possible link between Tiger's previous infidelities and his current poor form on the fairways was told, unconvincingly: "I think you are reading too deep into this."
The world No. 1 also continued his policy of answering questions in resolutely uninformative fashion. Asked why he had decided to fly back to the US rather than take the opportunity to practice at St Andrews to prepare for next week's Open, Woods responded "Because I need to get home," - a pointlessly brief answer that could only encourage a follow up question.
Yet when one of the assembled hacks asked if that was to pursue "personal stuff?" Woods glared back, perhaps aghast at this journalist bounder's temerity in daring to ask a question at a press conference, before grudgingly revealing he was returning to "see my kids."
Woods did compare the problems in his personal life to the death of his father, saying: "There are times in one's life when things are put in perspective; one being when my father passed and what I've been going through lately."
The golfer also opened up about his chances at St Andrews next week, commenting: "I'm really looking forward to getting there and competing. I feel like I'm right on pace. Normally this is about April in the amount of tournaments I've played, so that's about right. I look forward to major championships." If not the accompanying press that goes with them.
Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke was the winner of the event itself, finishing three under-par for the 36 holes at Adare Manor golf course yesterday, and narrowly edging out England's Luke Donald who finished a stroke behind. Woods finished four-over-par, but shot an encouraging round of three-under for the day after carding a pretty abysmal seven-over on Monday.
Woods' second-day performance at the charity event saw him partnered with jockeys Tony McCoy and the now-retired Mick Fitzgerald, and both men were clearly delighted to be playing alongside the world No. 1. Ruby Walsh, a fellow jockey who was serving as McCoy's caddy said that Woods was a "gentleman", while McCoy himself described the 34-year-old as chatty. Perhaps with you Tony.
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