Tiger shrugs off Castaño criticism

Woods unmoved by Matchplay opponent’s observations on his game

Not bothered: Tiger Woods has batted away Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño’s criticisms of his game

Tiger Woods has hit back at Gonzalo Ferdandez-Castaño’s observation that he is ‘beatable’ and ‘probably not at his best’.

Former world No.1 Woods takes on Spaniard Castaño today in the first round of the WGC-Accenture Matchplay Championship at Dove Mountain in Tucson, Arizona. However, far from being intimidated by taking on the 14-time major-champion and a three-time former of this particular event, Castaño is bullish on his prospects of taking down Woods in their 18-hole, head-to-head duel.

“He’s probably not at his best,” said the five-time European Tour winner. “And you have to look at it that way.  Maybe it’s a good chance to play good and maybe I can beat him.  That would be a good feeling.

“I’m the underdog, I have nothing to lose. So it’s a good opportunity.  If I play well I can beat him.  I know I need to play good.  He’s a great matchplay player.  He’s won this tournament three times.  He has a very good match play record, especially in his amateur days, not so good in the Ryder Cup.  I think he’s beatable.  Of course, I need to play good.  That’s all I can think about.”

Woods, now ranked 20^th on the official world golf rankings, responded in typically stoic fashion, saying: “I feel exactly the same way as he does.  I feel he’s beatable, too.”

Woods has become accustomed to people making withering observations about him and the state of his game, particularly over the past few years. However, he insists that he’s no longer bothered by what onlookers think.

“It used to quite a bit when I was younger,” he said. “But as I’ve matured and gone beyond that, it’s just an opinion. It’s their prerogative, it’s their opinion.  What matters is how I go out and play and how I’m progressing in my game.  At the end of the day when I’m retired, I think I will have mastered a pretty good record.”

Woods and Castaño tee off at 5.25pm (UK time) and Castaño will be hoping that he doesn’t suffer the same fate as previous Tiger detractors.

Stephen Ames was famously put to the sword by a 9&8 scoreline by Woods in the same event six years ago after he knocked the state of Tiger’s game and has hardly been heared of since. Meanwhile, in 2007, Rory Sabbatini squandered the 54-hole lead in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational after making some less-than-flattering comments about Woods – Tiger eventually claiming the title by an eight-shot winning margin.

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