Woods upbeat despite US Open failure

Tiger insists he will take away ‘a lot of postives’ from Olympic Club

Not out of the Woods yet: Tiger was left to rue a hugely disappointing weekend at the US Open

Tiger Woods insists that he will take ‘a lot of positives’ away from the US Open, despite blowing the 36-hole lead and costing himself the chance to win a 15th major.

Over the opening two rounds, the former world No.1 appeared to have rediscovered his knack for tackling major championships, so in control of his game he appeared.

Indeed, his early form at the Olympic Club even prompted one American golf journalist to proclaim him the winner and the championship over after the first round.

However, an error-strewn third round saw him fall five shots back with 18 holes to go and four dropped shots in the first three holes of his fourth round ended his challenge prematurely. He ultimately finished in a tie for 21st.

Despite a disappointing weekend, however, Woods insists that his game wasn’t that far away.

“I was just a touch off and that’s fine,” said the 36-year-old, who is now without a major win since the US Open in 2008. “I was still in the ball-game but I got off to a bad start and never got it going early and unfortunately put myself out of it.

“I was just a fraction off. It was amazing how many times I got just a half club, right between clubs all day.

“The first six holes, I just didn’t play well at all. I just could never get anything going positively and I missed the ball in the wrong side a couple times and that’s all it takes.”

Asked if he felt like this was an opportunity that got away from him, Woods added: “Boy, you could say that of a lot of tournaments, couldn’t you? I have finished close in major championships before, so I had a chance this week and I’ll get after it in another week at in DC [in the AT&T National, Woods’ next scheduled event.”

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