WASHINGTON, BALIPOST.com – Tiger Woods said Wednesday he feels “way better” after withdrawing last week with an oblique strain, but major concerns remain around the 15-time major winner entering the BMW Championship.
The most important worry for Woods starting Thursday at Medinah in suburban Chicago, seeking his first victory since capturing the Masters in April, is to play his way into next week’s season-ending US PGA Tour Championship in Atlanta.
At 38th in the season points standings, Woods is projected to need a top-11 finish to place well enough to reach the top 30 in points and earn a chance at defending the crown he won last year at East Lake, his first triumph since 2013.
“This week is no different,” Woods said. “I’m trying to win this tournament just like anybody else in this field and trying to get to East Lake and trying to get to a place where a lot of things changed for me last year and hopefully I can make that happen.”
Sixth-ranked Woods raised fears about his physical fitness by withdrawing from last week’s Northern Trust event at Liberty National with his injury, which dropped him out of the top 30.
After playing the front nine in a pro-am Wednesday, hitting full shots for the first time since last week’s exit, Woods only chipped and putted over the back nine, saying he was glad for the extra rest and felt “way better”.
“It was nice to take those days off and I had to just let it calm down and get a bunch of treatment on it, and it feels so much better,” Woods said.
“Played the front nine and played well, which was nice to see, nice to feel. Took the back nine off, chipped and putted quite a bit and it definitely doesn’t feel like it did on Friday, that’s for sure.”
Woods said tweaking his swing caused his latest injury setback. (AFP)
