Westy – Don’t write off Woods

March 2, 2011

20110302

Donald straight back into action after Arizona triumph

Last updated: 2nd March 2011

Westy - Don't write off Woods

Westwood: one win in 2010

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Former world number one Lee Westwood reckons it is only a matter of time before Tiger Woods wins again.

The 14-time major champion has not won a PGA Tour event in 18 months and has slid to fifth in the world rankings, but Westwood is not writing the American off just yet.

“Class is permanent. Form is fickle,” said Westwood, who himself surrendered the world number one ranking to Martin Kaymer on Monday. “I would be wise enough to know not to write him off.”

Woods has not won worldwide since the personal problems that engulfed him in late 2009 and led to his divorce from Elin Nordegren.

“There’s a different kind of interest for everybody,” Westwood added. “When he was playing well, there was interest to see how far up he could get and could anybody catch him up.

“Now that he’s not playing very well, there’s the interest of when will he get it back and how fast will people go in front of him.”

Juggling act

Woods is currently in the process of making changes to his swing with coach Sean Foley and is adjusting his schedule accordingly. He is not playing in Florida this week. “When I went through a bad patch, it was a juggling act,” Westwood said. “Tiger has got to do what he feels is right.”

Westwood himself could do with a return to the winner’s circle as he prepares to tee it up in this week’s Honda Classic at Palm Beach Gardens.

The Englishman surged to the top of the rankings on the back of a highly consistent 2010, but won just once last year, at the St Jude Classic in June.

Newly-crowned WGC Match Play champion – and world number three – Luke Donald is also in action this week as he bids to win back-to-back titles.

And the Englishman is not without a chance – he is in form, the tight layout at Palm Beach Gardens suits his accurate game and he won this title back in 2006.

He is joined in the field by his Ryder Cup colleagues Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter.

Lee Westwood/Luke Donald/Graeme Mcdowell Trios. Click here to bet.

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