In his newest blog, Tiger Woods touches on a number of topics, including his reasons for committing early to events, his struggle with bad language and his wishes for Phil Mickelson and Lorena Ochoa.
Highlights from TigerWoods.com:
On his tie for fourth at the Masters – “To actually contend in a major on the back nine Sunday and tie for fourth with very little preparation, with all that has transpired in my life, was pretty cool.”
On the warm reception from Augusta National patrons, which he says included a little girl handing him a letter on the third tee – “They definitely helped me mentally to be more comfortable out there. I was hoping for the best. To get that type of warmth is something I did not expect and will never forget.”
On his language after bad shots – “I received some criticism for bad language, which I apologized for immediately after Saturday’s round. It’s tough when you’re in a competitive environment and in the flow of a tournament. I’m not perfect. All I can say is I’m trying to do everything I can without losing my fire and competitive spirit.”
On his return to competition – “As far as competing, it was just like riding a bike again. Once the tournament came, everything felt normal, and I fell into my old rhythm and routine. I didn’t even think about it; it just happened. My body knew what to do.”
On Mickelson’s victory – “Before I stop talking about the Masters, I want to congratulate Phil Mickelson on the win and for all it means to him, Amy and the entire Mickelson family. They have really gone through a lot this year, and I wish them good health from now on.”
On Ochoa’s retirement – “I hear Lorena Ochoa is retiring from professional golf. Although we never played together, I met her several times, and she is a wonderful person and a great champion. The game of golf is definitely going to miss her. I hope she decides to stay involved in one form or another.
On announcing early commitments to tournaments – “ Earlier this week, I committed to The Players Championship and the AT&T National. Obviously, that’s earlier than usual. The PGA Tour asked me to commit earlier if I could to help the tournaments with their planning and security. I completely understand and know they’re trying to help out me and the other players. Whenever possible, I will continue to do this going forward.”
On what he’s been doing since the Masters – “I took a little time off after the Masters to go scuba diving and spend time with my family. But I did enjoy a fun round of golf with my friend John Cook at Isleworth Country Club. I double-eagled the par-5 17th hole -- the third of my life -- with a 5-wood and shot 63, so my game is improving.
