Tiger Woods confessed he’s not slept since the bust-up of his relationship with Lindsey Vonn and the same day as the anniversary of his father’s passing.
Woods and Vonn ended their two-year friendship last Sunday May 3rd and exactly nine years to the day since Woods father Earl Woods died in 2006.
The 14-time Major winner first met Vonn at a charity event in April 2012, but it was not till Vonn was officially divorced early in January 2013 their relationship moved to another level before going public three months later, and with official photographs of the sporting pair released to the media.
Tiger Woods reveals the day of his break-up with Lindsey Vonn was the ninth anniversary of his father’s death. (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
It’s not known who instigated the break-up but Woods, who blamed the break-up on the ‘hectic lives’ of the pair, was emotional and looking tired when asked about the matter ahead of competing in this week’s lucrative Players Championship at Ponte Vedre in Florida.
“Breaking up obviously does affect me. It is tough,” said Woods.
“I’m not going to lie about it. It is tough. And on top of that, this time of year is really, really hard on me.
“This three-day window is really hard. I haven’t slept.
“These three days, May 3rd through to May 5th today, is just brutal on me, and then with obviously what happened on Sunday, it just adds to it.”
He also added if the split with Vonn could affect his performance this week and in an event Woods has won on three occasions.
‘That’s kind of always how it’s been as I’ve always had to deal with circumstances on both, deal with stuff outside the ropes, and once you’re inside the ropes it’s time to tee it up and time to play,’ he said.
‘I focus, I get into my little world, my little zone, and do the best I possibly can for a five-hour time period … grind it out and win golf tournaments, because at the end, what I want to do at that particular week is win a tournament.”
Woods is returning to competition this week for a first time since sharing 17th place in last month’s Masters at Augusta National.
And the last time Woods contested the Players Championship was in 2013 and capturing a 79th PGA Tour title.
However two years ago Woods was ranked No. 1 in the world and he will tee-up tomorrow (THURS) currently ranked 125th.
“I am still a little bit rusty, a little bit, more than anything just a little bit tired,” he said.
“But then I’ve still got two days to get ready for Thursday, plus the late tee time helps.”
Woods will play the opening two rounds of the $10m event in the company of defending Players Champion Martin Kaymer and former TPC Sawgrass winner Adam Scott.
