Golf-Can Tiger win the Masters? Absolutely, he says (Reuters)

By Simon Evans

ORLANDO, Florida, March 27 (Reuters) – Tiger Woods put
himself into ‘Masters mode’ on Sunday, ending weeks of
introspective analysis to state confidently and simply that he
can win the U.S. Masters for a fifth time next month.

Woods shot an even-par 72 in the final round of the Arnold
Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill to end the week one under and
well behind the leaders.

The numbers were not great but Woods was happy with his
hitting throughout a round which was damaged by a bogey on the
17th and then a double bogey on the final hole where he found
water.

Afterwards, before signing autographs with a crowd of
enthusiastic fans, Woods was asked about his driving, his
putting and his comfort level.

The 14-times major winner has been willing to share his
problems of late but this time the message was that he was
getting better in all those areas and that crucially, for those
who wonder whether he still has that formidable confidence, he
had no doubt about whether he can triumph at Augusta.

Woods had a simple one word answer to the question of
whether he can win, staring the reporter in the eye as he
delivered it: “Absolutely”.

It was old school Tiger, a sign that with just over a week
to prepare for the Masters he is now in the zone – no longer
focusing on the doubts and what he has called ‘the process”.

GOOD WEEK

“It was a very good week and a week I need to see. I really
hit the ball well and the things that we have been working on
for the last couple of weeks, really, really felt comfortable
today, I felt I was able to control just about every shot
today,” he told reporters.

His driving? “Much better. Every day has gotten a little bit
tighter which is good. I have to keep working, keep staying the
course, each day is progressing. Today was really nice,” he
said.

“I need to keep progressing and hopefully it will peak two
more Thursdays from now. Early in the year was disappointing
because the conditions showed some signs of weakness that I had
to work on – now it’s feeling very, very good”.

That positive talk was however against the backdrop to a
messy end to his round.

“I played well all day and the best shot I hit was on 17th
but it didn’t come out. On 18 I was caught between clubs, went
with the lower one and didn’t luck out.

“I hit three water balls this week and had a few missed
putts here and there and I’m not that far behind. Add all that
together, you can’t afford to make those mistakes”.

Woods is not playing next week’s tour event in Houston,
instead he heads early to Augusta to start practice.

Last year, Woods went into Augusta without playing any tour
events and finished tied fourth.

“It is nice to have some tournaments under my belt and be
more in tournament shape going in. They have made a couple of
changes at Augusta. I’ll take a look at those and develop a game
plan,” he said.

It is game on now for Woods and the golfing world will be
watching eagerly to see whether there really is substance to his
renewed swagger.

(Editing by Alan Baldwin; To query or comment on this story
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