Tiger Woods might long for the day when all anyone questioned about his game was his swing.
Until now, no one ever doubted his putting. But as Woods begins his road to the Masters this week at the Honda Classic, scrutiny has shifted to what used be the most reliable part of his game.
Poised to make a run at Pebble Beach four weeks ago, Woods badly missed a five-foot birdie putt on the second hole and missed a three-footer for par on the seventh hole just as Phil Mickelson was pulling away.
"I could not get comfortable where I could see my lines," he said. "I couldn't get the putter to swing."
Last week at the Match Play Championship, despite missing two birdie putts inside 10 feet on the back nine, Woods had a birdie putt from just outside five feet on 18 to extend his second-round match against Nick Watney. The putt never even touched the hole.
"I should be able to fix it in a day," Woods said.
Players help each other all the time, so it should not be unusual that twice in the last three months, Woods has sought advice from Steve Stricker.
But since when does Woods need to take advice from anybody about putting? He is on everyone's list of the game's best putters. No one from his generation made more clutch putts.
Is it an easy fix? Woods said it would only take one day.
All that can be certain is that his putting is getting a lot of attention. Not because of the putts he makes, but the putts he misses.
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THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
LIVING IN...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
SPECS
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The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
RESULTS
5pm Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m
Winner Thabet Al Reef, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Abdallah Al Hammadi (trainer)
5.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Blue Diamond, Pat Cosgrave, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 Listed (PA) Dh230,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Hameem, Adrie de Vries, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6.30pm Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Shoja’A Muscat, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7pm Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner Heros De Lagarde, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 2,400m
Winner Good Tidings, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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