Sports

Good friend O'Meara thinks Tiger will play at Augusta

The Houston native hopes former world number one will return for the US Masters

Afp April 02, 2015

A file photo of Tiger Woods. PHOTO: AFP

HOUSTON: Mark O'Meara believes his good friend Tiger Woods will compete in next week's US Masters.

Former world number one Woods, whose ranking has plummeted to a mind-boggling 104th, has struggled badly for form and fitness this season and has played only twice on the PGA Tour.

His manager Mark Steinberg told Reuters earlier this week that the 39-year-old American had played 18 holes at Augusta as he continued to assess whether his game would be "tournament-ready" for the first major of the year.

"Deep down I think he will play," said O'Meara at a media viewing of Woods' first U.S.-designed golf course at BlueJack National, an hour's drive from Houston.

"I hope he plays but I also understand he is doing what he needs to do for him. Everybody struggles in the game of golf and no-one is immune to struggling.

"Let's face it, for a long time Tiger didn't have to struggle and nobody dominated a sport like he did," added O'Meara.

The 1998 Masters and 1998 British Open champion said 14-times major winner Woods always gets extra motivation when he is written off.

"He certainly dominated golf for quite a while but then a couple of years ago when I didn't think he was swinging the club that well he won five tournaments in a season and was named 'Player of the Year'," said O'Meara.

"He's the kind of athlete and individual that when people start to doubt him ... that is a good motivating factor for him to turn it around."

The Houston native, who now plays on the Seniors Tour, has been signed up by the Tiger Woods Foundation as an ambassador for the BlueJack National.

"I was around Tiger for the first 11 years when he came out on tour and he had a big impact on my life and my career," said O'Meara.

"I may not have won the two majors I won in '98 if Tiger had not come into my life. He's been a great friend."

COMMENTS (1)

Gabe | 9 years ago | Reply As my friend Mohamed used to say, "Don't use power you can't control" - Tiger's golf game is out of control. Better to sit this one out. Based on Tiger's last embarrassing performance, I would save everyone from throwing up and sit this one out. Don't take the attention away from those professional gofers who have worked hard on their game and deserving win the Master. I love Tiger and the Masters is one of those tournaments where I will watch even if Tiger is not in the field. Recently, This year, I tried to golf after 6 months of hibernation, my first swing killed my back and I still can't swing the irons. Sucks and golf will ef you up if you are not in shape. Tiger turned me into golfing and I have been improving every year with my score and for the last 3 years, I started shooting more and more in the low and mid 80s' - really sucks and depressing.

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