Tiger Woods insists he is still more than capable of equalling Ernie Els’ record of three Dubai Desert Classic titles this week, thus confounding the doubters.Question marks have been raised over the state of Woods’ game, and whether or not he has the longevity to last alongside the emerging talent in the field, since a 20-week break last year following his much-publicised fall from grace.A winner of 14 Majors doesn’t get to his standing in the sport without being ultra competitive though and the next four days will clearly be no different in that regard.“Same as every year: Win,” the American golfing great replied emphatically when asked for his goals for this season. “That doesn’t change and it has always been the same. That’s why I tee it up. If I’m in the event, it’s to win. That’s just plain and simple.“I don’t always win. I’ve certainly lost a lot more tournaments than I’ve won. But, it’s the goal every week you tee it up and that doesn’t change.”Woods doesn’t appear to be in the kind of form right now to mount a credible challenge for the crown, given that he finished tied 44th on one-under in the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines on the PGA Tour last month.Those four rounds were not without their plus points nonetheless, with the 35-year-old looking to make gradual improvements in a bid to get back to his very best.“My game is progressing,” he said. “I’m putting pieces together and working on the same things.“Sean (Foley) and I are sticking with the gameplan and just trying to get better each and every week.“Good things happened at the last event I played in and it’s nice to have some things that showed up that I had not had in practice. “So, we were able to identify that, work on it and I feel a lot more comfortable coming into this week.”
Woods then is better placed now to take on the two men who are currently barring his path to the world number one spot, Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer, in the first two round here.It has all the makings of an enthralling battle and the highest-paid athlete on the planet is looking forward to playing his part in it.“It’s going to be a fun pairing,” he enthused. “I played in a similar pairing in 2008 and it was a blast.“Traditionally, in the past, we have never got pairings like this. They usually split up the top guys and they go off different nines or in different waves.“I know our tour back in the States is trying to make a concerted effort at putting some featured pairings together. That’s good for the game and that’s the way they’re doing it here this week. It’s great for us as players and for all of the fans.” Meanwhile, a relaxed and smiley Woods looked far removed from the forlorn figure he cut back in 2009 and he is more than satisfied with the balance struck between his private, and professional, life.“I certainly feel balanced, good and happy and that’s a good thing,” he added. “You are always trying to find that right balance as an athlete and as a person. I’m the same as everybody else – Khaleejtimes
