Tiger targets turnaround

World number one determined to hang onto top spot at Firestone

Last updated: 6th August 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Tiger targets turnaround

Woods: Struggling start

Just because I like the course doesn't mean I'm going to play well on it. You still have to execute, and I didn't do that. Probably hit about two good iron shots all day today. That's definitely not enough.

Tiger Woods
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Tiger Woods is desperate to produce a second round comeback at Firestone, as his 270-week reign as world number one comes under serious threat after an opening 74 at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

Woods hit six bogeys at the Firestone course he usually relishes to leave him four over after the first round - which sees his number one ranking in serious jeopardy.

Phil Mickelson, the world number two, carded a four-under round of 66 to pile even more pressure on Woods, and now he needs to dig himself out of a hole to retain his ranking.

Woods beat only eight players in the first round after his worst score ever at the course, and he is now hoping to launch a miraculous comeback as he trails leader Bubba Watson by ten shots.

"I've just got to hopefully get it to even par or under par for the tournament and then hopefully put together a good weekend and see where that puts me," said Woods.

Frustrating

"I didn't play well. It's frustrating because I warmed up well, my practice sessions at home were good and today was not indicative of how I've been playing. Only thing I did good today is I kept my patience out there, grinded all day, and that was the best I could have done."

Woods was at a loss to explain why he performed so badly at a course where he has never before finished lower than fifth.

"Just because I like the course doesn't mean I'm going to play well on it," Woods added. "You still have to execute, and I didn't do that.

"I did not execute the shots that I wanted to execute, didn't shape the ball the way I wanted to shape it and certainly did not putt well. I was struggling on the greens and didn't hit any good iron shots. Probably hit about two good iron shots all day today. That's definitely not enough.

"The greens are really soft and you can go after just about every flag. 5-irons and 4-irons are still holding so it was a day you could be aggressive if you played better than I did."

Lefty charge

Woods' nightmare was worsened by Mickelson's efforts, as he recovered from two early bogeys to shoot 66, with the aid of a birdie on the sixth that came courtesy of a 51-foot chip-in.

"When that lob shot went in the hole, it gave me a nice boost," said Mickelson. "Not only did I get it up and down but I made a nice birdie and was able to get two more coming in."

Mickelson was playing with Rory McIlroy, and the young Northern Irishman was impressed with the left-hander's battling spirit.

"He made a very mediocre round into a very good round, and that's what he does," said McIlroy, who shot 68 to lie in a tie for 11th place.

"He can go on a run and make a few birdies. He sometimes makes them an unconventional way. He's very good at just getting the ball around the golf course and shooting good scores."

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