Tiger Woods insists he would have no problem in being paired against Adam Scott and Steve Williams during the Presidents Cup.
14-time major winner ready to take on former caddie
Tiger Woods insists he would have no problem in being paired against Adam Scott and former caddie Steve Williams during this week's Presidents Cup.
Relations between Woods and Williams have been strained ever since the former world number one opted to severe professional ties with the New Zealander back in July.
Things appeared to reach a low recently when Williams was reported to have made a racially-motivated comment about Woods during the annual Caddy Awards dinner in Shanghai.
However, the duo cleared the air before last week's Australian Open in Sydney and Woods claims he would be ready to take on Scott if they are drawn together when America take on an International team in Melbourne this week.
"Whatever the pairings happens, happens," he said. "Whoever you're paired up against you've got to go and earn your point for your country."
Indeed, US captain Fred Couples believes Woods and Scott would enjoy the challenge of facing each other, adding: "I think Tiger and Adam are still very good friends, I don't think there's a problem - I think Stevie and Tiger patched it up, I honestly think he'll have a good time.
"My old caddie of 20 years, (Joe LaCava), is caddying for Tiger, so the four of them know each other; Joey and Adam get along great, Joey and Steve get along great - I think it will be fun."
Improving form
Meanwhile, Woods is pleased with his improving form heading into the eagerly-anticipated clash at Royal Melbourne Golf Club.
The 35-year-old, who moved back into the world's top 50 following his third place finish in Sydney, feels there is plenty of cause for optimism in his game.
"It was close (to a victory), I'm very pleased with the shots I was able to hit and everything was pretty good," he said.
"I was able to fix my game, I was a little bit off on Saturday but was still able to hold it together - if I'd putted halfway decent I'd on Saturday I'd have turned that 75 into probably a 70 or 71. I gave myself plenty of looks out there."
Of Woods' performance in Sydney, Couples added: "It's weird because he was off just a little bit (on Saturday) and he said to me 'don't worry I'll give you a good round tomorrow'. Now we all can say that, but not many people say it like
that, and he went out and played very well.
"So I'm not that interested in worrying about me as far as I feel picking him, I like his attitude, the way he looks, the way he's walking and basically the way he's talking - he's a leader on our team and he led pretty well last week. He did have a shot at winning, obviously Saturday killed him, but he came back Sunday and he had a very, very good round."
Indeed, Woods has shrugged off the controversy surrounding his pick by Couples who revealed he would select the 14-time major winner way ahead of schedule and when he was both injured and struggling for form.
"I'm obviously grateful, but there are plenty of armchair quarterbacks out there and they have to understand that there's only one captain and that's Fred," Woods declared.
"Fred believed in my ability to play, represent this team and earn points and that's all I'm trying to do."
