Tiger: I’m fit and ready to go in 2012

Former world No.1 Woods has sights set on a successful season

Eyes on the prize: Tiger Woods is hoping to continue his good end-of-2011 form as he starts 2012

Tiger Woods has sounded a warning to the players above him on the world rankings, insisting: I’m fit, ready and raring to go.

Woods, who has spent a total of 623 weeks as world No.1, is currently ranked 25^th after two years blighted by off-course indiscretions and various injuries.

However, as he prepares to make his first appearance in 2012 at this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, the 14-time major-winner says he is in the best shape he has been physically for over a decade.

“It’s been quite a few years since I’ve been physically fit,” said Woods. “So I’m looking forward to getting out there and then playing and give it a full season, which I haven’t done in a while. I’m really looking forward to it.

“It’s probably eight, ten, 12 years ago since the last time I felt fully fit. I had surgery in 2002. I had surgery in 2008. A couple other ones in there, too. It’s been a while.

” I played really well my last three events, so I’m really looking forward to this year, and building on what we have done towards the end of last year for sure.”

Woods’ last tournament was in early December at the Chevron World Challenge, a reduced field tournament which yielded his first victory in over two years.. That followed an impressive few weeks ‘Down Under’ where he contended in the Australian Open and secured the winning point for the USA in the Presidents Cup.

That run of form, he says, has filled him with optimism ahead of the new season.

“I think Australia was pretty big for me to go down there for two weeks and play in that type of wind, and to hit the ball as well as I did,” he said. “I really controlled my golf ball for two weeks, and you know, I think that led to what I did at the World Challenge. I hit the ball just as well there, and made a couple of putts, and especially on the last two holes there. You know, consequently, got a ‘W’.”

Another ‘W’ this week could see Woods rise back into the top ten on the world rankings. Speculation has been rife as to Woods’ reasons for playing in the event at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, particularly given that the counter-tournament on the PGA Tour this week is the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, a venue where he has won seven times as a pro.

Woods confirmed that, amongst other things, an appearance fee had swayed him.

“I’d have to say yes, it certainly does,” said Woods, whose reported $2m incentive is just $700,000 shy of the total purse up for grabs this week. “That’s one of the reasons why a lot of the guys who play in Europe, they do play in Europe, and they do get paid. I think the only tour that doesn’t pay is the US Tour.”

Woods tees off his 2012 season this Thursday at Abu Dhabi Golf Club alongside Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy. Keep up-to-date with live scoring at www.europeantour.com

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Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor of bunkered