GOLF

Woods still in peak interview form

By Larry Dorman

Published: December 18, 2008

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THOUSAND OAKS, California: It will be awhile before Tiger Woods steps inside the ropes to let his clubs answer any lingering questions about the state of his competitive golf game, but his performance at his first full-scale interview since he won the U.S. Open in June was game-day sharp.

In a tight and bright 28 minute 31 second session Wednesday at Sherwood Country Club, Woods answered everything he wanted to cover. He addressed the rehabilitation progress of his surgically repaired left knee (right on schedule), his ability to hit full shots (ahead of schedule) and the date he expects to return to competition (uncertain).

He reported that the economic downturn has had no adverse effect on the Chevron World Challenge, the tournament benefiting the Tiger Woods Foundation that he is hosting this week for the 10th consecutive year.

Woods also discussed what he hopes will be the resolution of the controversy caused by off-color, critical remarks about Phil Mickelson attributed this past weekend to his caddie, Steve Williams.

"I communicated with Phil, and we have discussed it," Woods said. "I talked to Stevie about it, and he feels bad, what happened. It's something that none of us really wanted to have happen, but it's over and done with."

The 32-year-old Woods added that Williams, his caddie since 1999, will be in his customary position when Woods returns some time before the 2009 Masters. He then moved on to other topics.

He said he began hitting full shots two weeks ago, a month ahead of the January date he had set for hitting anything longer than pitch shots.

"I haven't really progressed too far into the bag," he said. "The ball is not going very far, so I kind of know how you guys feel - you know, 'That flag out there 100 yards, boy, that's a long way.' But it is fun to actually get outside and start swinging again."

His rehabilitation from surgery on June 24 to repair a ruptured ligament has gone as planned. He has added a swimming regimen. He is two pounds, or almost a kilogram, lighter than he was during his U.S. Open playoff victory at Torrey Pines, in San Diego, and appears leaner. He walked easily, with no limp.

He spoke of missing competition and a strong desire to return that is tempered by the knowledge that coming back before the knee was ready could set him back. Ideally, he said, he would like to play two events before the Masters, which begins April 9.

"That's always been an intent," he said. "As far as reality, that's two different things. I don't know. That's the most frustrating thing is the uncertainty. How is the leg going to respond to more hours of practicing, more playing, more holes of play, playing at home? How is it going to recover from day to day to day?

"All this is unknown," he said. "Everyone heals at different rates. I couldn't tell you and my surgeon can't tell you, trainers can't tell you."

Australian leads in Bangkok

Nevin Basic, an Australian, fired an impressive six-under-par 66 to take a two-shot lead on the opening day of the Volvo Masters of Asia on Thursday, Reuters reported from Bangkok.

Basic twice hit back-to-back birdies on the outward nine and added two more on the back end of a blemish-free round to make the early headway at the Asian Tour's season-ending championship.

Compatriot Adam Blyth was two behind on 68, tied with Taiwan's Lin Wen-tang, with four players a stroke further back on a blustery afternoon.

Basic, in his second year on the tour, said he was eager to climb up the order of merit to boost his chances of playing in bigger events co-sanctioned with the European Tour.

"We're playing for better positions next year," he said. "This event is more important than the others and it's the best field of the year.

"It'll be great to win. I just need to relax and play, you can't force it to happen as it'll normally end in disaster."

India's Jeev Milkha Singh, who has already won the order of merit, had a miserable start, bogeying four times to finish on a grim 76.

"It was a rough day, no birdies, four bogeys, but there are three more days to go," said Singh, who became the tour's first "million dollar man" after netting $1.4 million in prize money.

"I'm tired, I've played a lot this year. I guess I've lost a lot of steam."