Tiger Woods is ‘lost’, claims Sean O’Hair

• Valspar Championship runner-up Sean O’Hair says Tiger is ‘lost’
• Relates back to own experiences after years of poor showings
• Billy Horschel desperate for Woods to make Masters return

Last week’s Valspar Championship runner-up Sean O’Hair has claimed that Tiger Woods is ‘lost’ as the 14-time major champion continues his absence from the game.

O’Hair, 32, made the comment ahead of this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, likening the former world No.1’s current woes to his own past troubles in the game.

Before O’Hair’s runner-up finish last week, where he and Patrick Reed were defeated by Jordan Spieth in a play-off, the four-time PGA Tour winner had gone more than three years without a top three finish on tour and was ranked No.401 in the world.

Back in May 2009, O’Hair was ranked as high as No.12 and following his remarkable slide after a wretched few years on tour, he had to do a lot of ‘soul-searching’ and said he knows exactly how Tiger Woods must be feeling.

“I just think that he’s lost” – Sean O’Hair

Speaking ahead of the tournament, where he famously blew a five-shot final round lead to hand Tiger Woods victory in 2009, O’Hair said: “I just think that he’s lost and the only reason why I say that is because that’s where I’ve been. I’ve been living it.

“I think his mind is a little clouded and I don’t think it has anything to do with his golf swing and I don’t think it’s because he’s not committed to the game.

“I think he’s still the greatest talent the game has ever seen and arguably the best player ever. He’s nothing but good for the game and it’s only good for me and everybody else if he plays the way he knows how to.”

Another player sharing his thoughts on Tiger Woods this week is Billy Horschel, who wants the 39-year-old to return for the Masters in three weeks’ time and thinks he can still come back stronger than ever before.

He said: “Selfishly, I want to see him there . I want to see him back competing and I want to compete against him.

“If I happen to win the Masters, I want Tiger to be at that Masters. Obviously ranking may not say he’s the best player right now but we all know he’s the most talented player in the game of golf by far.

“I have no doubts he’ll come back a better player, he always does and he’s going to prove a lot of people wrong. If I thought his game was never going to come back, I would show him a little sympathy but I think his game will come back and he’ll be a better player from all of this.”

Tiger Woods hasn’t played since withdrawing from the Farmers Insurance Open six weeks ago, but the former world No.1 still harbours hopes of playing in the Masters in three weeks’ time following a statement released on his website on March 13.

Tiger Woods’ continued absence :: Your thoughts

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