Tiger Woods has one event remaining this year but he’s already focussing on next year’s Majors and returning to three of four venues where he has tasted success.
Woods left Turkey with a share of third place and four shots behind surprise Turkish Airlines winner, Victor Dubuisson of France.
The world No. 1 ranked Woods could look back to the disappointment Thursday’s weather-delayed opening round when he shot a two under par 70 and a round where he managed to hit just three fairways.
And while Woods’ driving improved marginally he averaged 66 over the next three days.
Woods will not play again to his final event of the year when he hosts the December 5th commencing World Challenge at Thousand Oaks in suburban L. A and an event he has captured five times since its inception in 1999.
Tiger Woods emotional 2006 Open Championship win at Royal Liverpool and one of three Major venues in 2014 where Woods has reigned supreme.
The 14-time Major winner will then make his 2014 European Tour debut in the 25th anniversary Dubai Desert Classic starting on the 30th January.
Next year will be six years since Woods last won a Major Championship in capturing the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines.
However Woods remains quietly confident of moving closer to Jack Nicklaus’ all-time record of 18 Majors given the Masters, British Open at Royal Liverpool and PGA Championship at Valhalla will be staged in 2014 on venues where he has won in the past.
Woods has won four times at Augusta National while he won the 2006 British Open when last staged at Royal Liverpool and he defeated fellow American Bob May in a play-off to capture the 2000 PGA Championship at Valhalla when last staged on the Kentucky course.
“Next year is really good for one for me in the Majors, and on top of having won at three of the four venues, I’ve had a third and a second at Pinehurst (2014 US Open venue) and hopefully I can keep improving there,” he smiled.
“I’m looking forward to the four venues. I like them and obviously I’ve played well on them.”
And Woods played down criticism in not having captured a 15th Major arguing he won five times this season on the PGA Tour as well as returned to No. 1 in the world.
“Compared to this time last year, I’ve got, what, five more wins since then, so I think my game has gotten a little better,” he said.
“So the way I have played this year as a whole has been very encouraging.
“A couple of years ago, there were a lot of guys, so many guys here (in the media) that were saying I could never win again. I’ve got eight wins since then, so it’s been good and I’m very happy with the progress I’ve made.
“I’ve won on some venues that were very tough this year, and also being a part of the Presidents Cup with Freddie (Couples) and winning that point, too, was another special moment.”
While Woods sounds upbeat current European No. 1 Henrik Stenson faces an anxious few days to ascertain if his right wrist will be alright ahead of the final event of the 2013 European Race to Dubai.
Stenson is considering pulling out of tomorrow’s (TUES) DP World Tour Championship Pro Am and as he had done ahead of the recent BMW Masters in Shanghai.
“The problem with the tendons in my wrist is going to affect my preparations but it’s been like that for the last three weeks,” he said.
“My only concern is that long-term, I just hope I’m not damaging anything that’s going to take longer to get fixed later on.
“But I am going to speak to my physio and see what he wants me to do.”
Stenson shared seventh place in Turkey but with the Swede seeing his lead cut from Euro 343,866 to Euro 213,468 while the leading four contenders for the European No. 1 title are now separated by Euro 343,906 and with this week’s event carrying a first prize of Euro 1.14m.
But falling short of qualifying to the final event was three-time Major winning Padraig Harrington who ended his year 68th on the money list with Euro 464,326, and indicating he won’t play again to next January’s Volvo Champions event in Durban.
“I’m now looking forward to a break,” he declared
“But then there’s two parts to that, you obviously like to play competitive golf to test where your game is at so I will miss that side of it.
“I played pretty nicely in practice as it is, so not really …… but a break won’t do me any harm, that’s for sure.
“I’ll have certainly more of a rest, getting your mind sharp, that kind of thing. I am probably going to take seven weeks. I’m going to play the Volvo Championship and then take a few more weeks after that.
“I’m also struggling with numbers next year, really badly struggling with numbers to try and find 13 events in Europe is tough for me. I don’t know what I am going to do yet. I have to look at the schedule but I am struggling to get my numbers up for sure.”
