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Wednesday, 13 June 2018 09:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
SOUTHAMPTON, NY (Reuters): Tiger Woods spoke openly about the state of his game on Tuesday ahead of the US Open, but slammed the door shut on questions about his private life.
Barely a year after being arrested asleep at the wheel of his car in Florida, a bright-eyed Woods faced the media for a 25-minute press conference at Shinnecock Hills.
Asked how his life had improved in the ensuing 15 months, Woods curtly dismissed the question in just three words.
“It’s gotten better,” he said, making clear again that his new media and fan-friendly persona goes only so far.
He said that he watched last year’s US Open on television, before he had been given the all-clear even to start practising again after his April spinal fusion, not even sure he would be able to play again, let alone return to major championships. “I had no expectation of getting this far,” he said.
“A lot of this is pure bonus because of where I was. It’s a great feeling and one I don’t take for granted.”
And although he has not yet won in his comeback this year, he has been competitive, including twice being in contention at back-to-back tournaments in Florida in March.
“There’s two ways of looking at that: I’ve given myself a chance to win, which I didn’t know if I was ever going to,” he said.
“I loved how it felt being there.
“I would like to get myself there a few more times. So far this year I’ve only given myself a few chances.”
Traffic trouble
One thing he won’t have to worry about this week is traffic as he tries to end a decade-long drought since his 14th major win at the 2008 US Open.
“Staying on a dinghy helps,” he said, referring to his luxury yacht which is anchored nearby.
Shinnecock, on the narrow eastern part of Long Island, is accessible by only one road, but Woods will arrive from the east, against the worst of the traffic.
He said some players had taken more than two hours to get to the course from their hotels and rental houses.
“There’s a good chance someone might miss their (tee) time.”
