Tiger Woods could be step closer to launching comeback bid

Published on Thursday 11 March 2010 21:26

THE chances of Tiger Woods making his comeback in two weeks' time improved yesterday with a report claiming that he has been talking with a former presidential adviser.

Contact between the world No1 and Ari Fleisher, who since working for George W Bush has set up a sport communications firm, would presumably be to discuss an imminent return to golf.

The New York Post say they have been told by "two sources in the golf community" that Fleisher – brought in to try to repair the image of baseball star Mark McGwire as he admitted using performance-enhancing drugs – is now seeing Woods.

One of the sources allegedly told the newspaper: "They were in his living room this week going over a strategy for how to handle Bay Hill in two weeks."

The Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Orlando is on 25-28 March, but Woods may first play the unofficial Tavistock Cup on Monday and Tuesday that week.

That is a private annual match between members of Isleworth and Lake Nona clubs and Woods has played for the last four years.

It is less than three weeks since Woods, in his first public appearance since his sex scandal broke at the end of November, said he was not certain to return this year, let alone a month later.

Meanwhile, Tom Watson, who was pipped to the Open at Turnberry last year, has confirmed his entry to this July's 150th anniversary championship at St Andrews.

The 59-year-old's form arrived at the R&A's headquarters last night as the Kansas veteran joined past champions John Daly, Ben Curtis, David Duval and Ernie Els on the list of early entrants.

Despite claiming four of his five Claret Jugs on Scottish soil, Watson has never triumphed at the Home of Golf, although he was runner-up to Seve Ballesteros over the Old course in 1984.

R&A chiefs are hoping Watson, who missed out on becoming the oldest winner of the Open last July when he lost in a play-off to Stewart Cink, will compete in the Open Champions' Challenge, a four-hole shoot-out on the Wednesday night before the championship tees-off.

Noh Seung-yul made it a week to remember after the K orean teenager followed up his Maybank Malaysian Open victory by claiming one of four qualifying spots for the Open.

The 18-year-old carded a four-under-par 68 on the final day of International Final Qualifying at Saujana Golf and Country Club in Kuala Lumpur to finish ten-under, level with Danny Chia and one shot behind winner Hiroyuki Fujita from Japan.

Korean amateur Eric Chun secured the final qualifying spot.

"I'm really happy, but honestly it hasn't settled in yet. I'm not going to let it get to my head," said Noh.

"I treat every tournament the same and I'm looking forward to playing against the world's best."