Friday 6 February 2015 00:12, UK
Tiger Woods hopes his 'gradually improving' game will enable him to be competitive by the time the Masters comes around.
Woods had a shocking start to his 2015 campaign at last week's Waste Management Phoenix Open, his second round 82 proving to be the worst of his professional career with the ugly front-nine 44 that kicked it off a career-equalling low point.
The former world No 1 tees up again this week at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines looking to get back into the top 50 and secure an invite to the first World Golf Championship event of the season at Doral early next month.
His practice round on Wednesday, limited to nine holes because of fog, again showed Woods has a lot to work on, with his short game appearing to require most attention.
He hit three more poor chips and bunker shots but Woods said it is just going to be a case of practice, practice and more practice as he looks to get back somewhere near his best in time for Augusta.
"I’ve got a lot of rounds to play between now and then," Woods said. "That’s what we’re building for.
"My phone has been off the last couple of days. Just been working on my game, just Chris (Como, his newest swing ‘consultant’) and I.
"If I happen to play well enough to get into Doral, then great, I got four more rounds there.
"If I don’t, I’m still trying to peak for Augusta. It would be nice [to get into Doral], but I have to go earn my way there. I’m going to have to play better than obviously I did last week."
Woods continues to be plagued by his swing pattern as he tries to change from the steep swing he used under Sean Foley to the shallower version preached by Como.
"The patterns are so polar opposites," he added. "They’re completely different release patterns. My good is really good. Unfortunately, my bad is really bad."
Watch coverage of Tiger Woods at the Farmers Insurance Open all week on Sky Sports 4.
