Abu Dhabi: Tiger Woods came close to a winning start to 2012 last year and went on to win three titles and get back into contention for a shot at the world number one title again.
Twelve months later, the 14-time Major winner wears a confident look and says he just wants to focus on being consistent and win tournaments which will take care of his ranking position.
Commenting on the rise of young Rory McIlroy to the world number one ranking and his bid to regain that spot, Woods said: “Well, I would like to just win golf tournaments. The rankings take care of themselves by winning golf tournaments.”
“I was at one point, what was I, outside the Top 50 or whatever it was but I won three times last year and lo and behold, look where I’m at,” said Woods who had his best year in a long time and moved into the top two.
“It’s about winning golf tournaments and being consistent. I think that over the course of my career, I’ve done a pretty good job of that, and would certainly like to continue doing that,” he said, serving notice to his rivals that he is ready for the hunt.
Woods was in the title-chase until the final few holes last year before he finished third to Robert Rock and after having a feel of the National Course, the American said he was ready to try and capture the Falcon Trophy. “Yeah, excited to be back. Went out there and played nine today, and golf course is playing tough,” he said.
“A little bit more full than it was last year, and with this wind, I don’t think it’s forecast for the entire week but if it does blow like this, it will be one hell of a test. There’s a lot more grass than what we played on last year,” Woods said.
Commenting on his preparation for the year ahead, the former world number one said, “I just shut it down and got away from golf for a couple weeks. Just put the clubs away and never looked at them. It was nice to shut it down like that, and when I came back and started, just like I do every year, I start from the green back.”
“Basically that’s how I was raised, started from when I was a little boy from putting to chipping to pitching to irons to driver, so that’s what I did and worked on basically trying to refine what I was doing towards the end of last year. I thought my ball striking was good and my short game finally came around towards the end of last year,” he said, hoping to extend that form and regain his past glory.
