The centre of attention: Tiger Woods walks back to the clubhouse at Celtic ManorA soon-to-be-published book about the relationship between Tiger Woods and his late father, Earl, quotes Ernie Els predicting a future of solitude for the world number one.
'Tiger's going to be a very lonely guy, I think, unfortunately,' Els tells respected American author Tom Callahan.
Which may, or may not, explain why Woods, quintessential individual sportsman and hitherto a markedly reluctant embracer of the Ryder Cup and its team ethic, can now speak warmly about the opportunity for comradeship offered by the biennial contest.
'The thing that goes on in the team rooms, that's what we all look back on,' Woods said on Tuesday. 'The memories and he friendships that you build up for a lifetime just in one week and then he connection we have had.
'For us to come here like this and be part of the squad, it truly is fun. What really matters is my team. It's about us coming together as a team and being a team. And what happens outside the team room has no concern to us. We are here to get the job done as a team.'
Well, he's changed his tune. Back in 2002 at a WGC event in Ireland, we can remember the shrill whistle of Woods claiming there were a 'million reasons why' he would prefer winning a million dollar WGC event the week before the Ryder Cup rather than the Ryder Cup itself.
'It's just because of the age,' Woods explained. 'I was a pretty young guy and I was usually the youngest player on the team for basically eight years. Most of he guys that I played with, you know, in my rookie year are now on the Senior Tour. Those were my teammates.
'So there was the difference of age. I had come out of college, two years of playing for Stanford every week, and it was harder to relate because these guys were older than I was.'
Doing his bit: Woods signs autograpgs during his practice roundAnd yet, as if to prove that Woods found few problems in relating with people of more senior years, just about his best friend at that time was Mark O'Meara, a man old enough to have been his father.
Speaking of whom. 'His Father's Son', written by Callahan and published on October 28 by Gotham Books, portrays Earl as a serial womaniser and, as events of the past 12 months have demonstrated, Tiger as very much a chip of the old block.
Associated Press last week reported Callahan as writing: 'Any woman who ventured within 50 feet of Earl was a potential plaintiff.' Son, according to the book and with what turned out breathtaking hypocricy, once fell out with father for having to pay off one of the old man's sexual conquests.
But it is Callahan's interview with Els, conducted during the Arnold Palmer Invitational earlier this year, which will interest the golfing world.
On the tee: Tiger Woods'I still say you can't play your best golf without self-respect,' Els told Callahan.
'Obviously, Elin (the ex-wife) married the person she believed he was. If he sincerely wants to become that person, good on him. I'll support him. Absolutely.
That's what I have done my whole career. Supported him. But, to be honest, I wonder where he's going to put his energy now? Into fitness?'
Into winning the Ryder Cup in the short term, if the intensity of his practice yesterday and the amount of work he has been putting in at home in Orlando are anything to go by. Last weekend was spent with new coach Sean Foley on trying to eradicated the bad old habits and cement a revised method to be relied upon in extremis.
Trying out his putting: Woods during the USA's first practice round on Tuesday'The biggest thing is actually understanding the fixes,' he said. 'Out on the golf course today, I hit some bad ones, but I automatically knew what the fix was. That's neat because sometimes it takes a while to understand what the fix will be.'
Golf - and the paying public - remain fascinated. Woods attracted the biggest gallery yesterday. No change there.
'Tiger Woods is Tiger Woods,' Colin Montgomerie declared. 'He is the one name all my players are looking for when the draw comes out on Saturday night (for the singles). Playing Tiger is a real challenge. I thought so. Anyone would think so. Tiger may not been winning the tournaments he is used to but you still have to beat him.'
Plenty have in the Ryder Cup. Woods has played 25 matches in five previous appearances with a record in debit of won 10, lost 13 and halved two.
All smiles: Woods at a Celtic Manor press conference on Tuesday'Before I met him, you feel as if he's super-human,' Rory McIlroy said. 'But once you meet him you realise he's a normal guy and that he works hard at his game and gets the most out of it. I'm sure he will get back to winning the way he used to. For the meantime I suppose a little bit of the aura has gone.'
Or to put it another way, as one British journalist, did in a question: 'You don't win majors anymore, you don't win regular tournaments anymore and you are about to be deposed by Europeans or Phil Mickelson as No 1, where is the Ryder Cup on your agenda now that you're an ordinary golfer?'
Woods knew the face. 'I remember you're the one at the British Open who went after me,' he said with a smile. 'I hope you have a good week.'
Europe will hope Woods does not.
source :dailymail
