Tiger Woods's inability to overhaul Angel Cabrera at the US Open
should not be viewed as a pattern of weakness, says Vijay Singh's
former mental game coach.
Twice champion Woods had to settle for his second successive
runner-up spot in golf's blue riband events after failing to win a
major for the 29th time when trailing after 54 holes.
Dr. Joe Parent, who helped Fijian Singh become world number one
in 2004, believes the focus should be placed instead on Woods's
remarkable ability to get into contention.
"If you look at Tiger's performance on Sunday, he's hitting the
ball horribly but finds a way to save par," Parent said.
"That's what separates him from the rest. How could he play so
badly from tee to green and still have a chance to birdie the last
hole to force a playoff?
"He hit a lot of wayward shots and had to make a number of
clutch par-saving putts."
Woods, who produced an immaculate display of ball-striking to
shoot a one-under-par 69 in the third round at Oakmont Country
Club, failed to replicate that form on Sunday.
The game's leading player hit 17 of 18 greens in regulation on
Saturday but that ratio dropped to 11 of 18 in the final round.
Bidding for his 13th major title but unable to make enough
birdies on one of golf's most difficult layouts, Woods battled to a
72 and a tie for second place, one stroke behind Cabrera.
"Anyone with a historical perspective knows that golfing careers
move in waves, there are peaks and troughs," Parent said.
"Keep in mind that Tiger won the final two majors of last year
and he has just had two second-place finishes."
Woods clinched last year's British Open and the PGA Championship
before tying for second at the Masters in April, two shots behind
fellow American Zach Johnson.
Asked if Woods's inability to come from behind in the final
round of majors could pose a problem, Parent replied: "It could
verge into superstition if he let it.
"However, it has no basis if you compare golf to an auto race or
a horse race where you have to jockey for position and pass the guy
in front.
"Going into the final round at Oakmont, Tiger was two behind
(third-round leader and playing partner) Aaron Baddeley and he beat
him by more than two strokes. What really happened was that
somebody else ahead of him (Cabrera) posted a score."
While Dr Parent was offering his advice, Tiger became a parent
himself when wife Elin has given birth to their first child, Woods
said in a statement on his website
"Elin and I are delighted to announce the birth of our daughter,
Sam Alexis Woods. Sam was born early on Monday morning, June 18th,"
Woods said.
"Both Elin and Sam are doing well," he said.
(China Daily via Agencies June 20, 2007)
