Tiger Woods made his long-awaited return to Dubai in buoyant mood, with the 14-time Major champion declaring that victory was still very much on his mind.
Having missed almost all of last season through injury, Woods, who began his comeback at last week’s Farmers Insurance Open where he missed the cut, the former World No.1, who has since slipped to the lowly depths of 666th in the rankings, revealed that he’s in it to win it as much as ever as he hunts down a third Omega Dubai Desert Classic this week.
.@TigerWoods was all smiles as he addressed the media at the @EmiratesGC @OMEGAGolfDubai
Watch the highlights: https://t.co/mRgGXAtTFF pic.twitter.com/D6lAIjDuVg
— Worldwide Golf (@WorldwideGolf) February 1, 2017
“If I’m teeing it up, that’s the goal,” said Woods to a media room at Emirates Golf Club that was literally bursting at the seams with journalists. “The goal is to win it. Over the course of my career, I have been less successful at winning golf tournaments than winning tournaments. But the goal is to win, and that doesn’t change.
“Whether I’m injured, coming off an injury or I’m playing well, or I’m playing poorly, if I’m in the event, it’s to win the event.”
https://worldwide.golf/video_tips/best-bits-tiger-woods-omega-dubai-desert-classic-press-conference/
Woods, who won the event in 2006 and 2008, last teed it up in the emirate in 2014 and even after just three years away he was shocked at how much Dubai has changed.
“It’s great to be back,” he said I haven’t been back here in Dubai in a few years, and again, to see the amount of growth that’s transpired is pretty remarkable.
“The golf course is about the same. The only change I think is 18, playing with a different angle but the golf course is the same. It’s in great condition. There are a few little rough spots on the edge of the greens, but the greens are rolling perfectly.
“So hopefully the weather will hold off this week and we can get some scores in.”
