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Tough times Woods has struggled in past events
Updated: Thursday October 19, 2000 12:13 AM
By Johnny Phelps, CNNSI.com LAKE MANASSAS, Va. -- The greatest golfer in the world was, aside from Bobby Jones, the greatest in match play as an amateur. Tiger Woods won three U.S. Juniors and three U.S. Amateurs But Woods' Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup record is only 5-9-1. He's anxious to reverse that trend. But he recognizes it won't come easily. "I remember the last Presidents Cup [1998]," said Woods at a news conference on Wednesday. "I was teamed with John Houston and we both played pretty good. John shot 69 and I shot 64 and we lost. That's just the way it goes sometimes." Two years ago in Melbourne, Australia Woods managed only a 2-3 record which still tied for the most points won by any American. But that experience came in the midst of his swing change that has produced 17 tour victories and nearly $15 million in earnings the last two years. But despite those remarkable numbers, Woods can only control his game. "The only thing that I can do is go out there and give it actually everything I have which I do. How my record comes out, it comes out. That's the only thing I can guarantee. It would be nice to have a great winning record, there's no doubt about that. When you are all said and done with your career it would be nice to look back and say, 'I've had a fabulous record.' But, all I can say is I give it everything that I have."
What Woods has is something fellow PGA player turned competitor Ernie Els is all too familiar with. "You know Tiger...how many points is one game?' asked Els during the international team's news conference on Wednesday. "I think it's one point isn't it? So, you know, it's not like he's going to win or lose it for them. He's a team member. So myself and Vijay [Singh who will face Woods and Notah Begay in the first round] have got one point to play for tomorrow [Thursday]. We're playing for the team and we're going to try and do our best." Woods has been away from competition since he won the Bell Canadian Open on September 10. But as is his custom, when he returns to competition, he has summoned his coach Butch Harmon to make any necessary adjustments. "If it happens, it happens. If it doesn't, it doesn't," Woods says. "It's one of those things where I try my best and that's all I can do. A lot of times, I've tried my best and I've played terrible. I couldn't help out my partner one bit and other times where I've played well, my partner didn't help me out. It is just the way it goes." Sixteen and a half points are needed for victory this week. But if the score is tied at 16-all at the conclusion of Sunday's singles matches, a designated player from each team will begin play in a sudden-death playoff for the Cup. Now some of the players this week weren't even aware of that fact. Each captain will put that name in an envelope sealed prior to the completion of Thursday's first match. You think there's any chance captain Ken Venturi puts a name other than Tiger Woods in his envelope? I don't think so either.
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