Clarke: Tiger will bounce back

Former British Open Champion and five-time Ryder Cup winner Darren Clarke has backed Tiger Woods to bounce back from his disappointment at the Phoenix Open.
Woods recorded the worst score of his professional career in the second round at the TPC Scottsdale, carding an 11-over 82 to finish on 13 over and in dead last on the 132-man field and miss the cut.
Clarke told Sky Sports that it would be premature to write off Woods at this stage, when he was in the process of adjusting to a completely redesigned swing.
“It would be wrong to read any more into how Tiger played in Phoenix other than to say that any time you make major swing changes in your game you are going to have to crawl before you walk,” said Clarke.
“It may be fine on the practice range but you only find out what’s really happening in your game in competition. If Tiger makes changes in his game then he does so for a reason.
“He’s the best player in the world and his perseverance and dedication will ensure you’ll find him back up at the pointed end of a leaderboard and not down at the bottom.
“So I am not at all surprised or shocked as that would be foolish, and if you’re making changes in your game then you’re making changes. He’ll be fine. He’s too good a player not to be.”
Woods is currently working with biomechanics specialist and swing coach Chris Como in a bid to put a stop to the recurring back injuries which plagued him throughout 2014.
Clarke has first had experience with adjusting to a new swing and struggled for form after winning the Open Championship in 2011.
The Northern Irishman, who was recently named as an ambassador for the MENA (Middle East North Africa) Tour, has been tipped to captain Europe at the next Ryder Cup.
Latest
-
PGA Championship
Justin Thomas pays tribute to caddie Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay after his US PGA victory
Phil Mickelson’s former bagman gave Thomas a crucial pep talk after he shot 74 on Saturday.
-
PGA Championship
Tommy Fleetwood confident he is ‘coming out the other side’ after dip in form
Fleetwood finished in a tie for fifth at the US PGA Championship.
-
PGA Championship
Emotional Justin Thomas credits his experience for US PGA victory
Thomas also won the 2017 US PGA at Quail Hollow.
-
PGA Championship
Justin Thomas eclipses Will Zalatoris in play-off to claim second US PGA title
The former world number one’s victory equalled the biggest comeback in US PGA history.
-
PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy’s Sunday charge at US PGA Championship ends in disappointment
McIlroy’s closing 68 in Tulsa was followed by him declining to speak to waiting reporters.
-
PGA Championship
Paul McGinley says Tiger Woods deserves better than to be a ‘ceremonial golfer’
The 46-year-old withdrew from a major championship for the first time in his professional career at Southern Hills.
-
PGA Championship
Mito Pereira with three-shot lead at US PGA as Tiger Woods withdraws
It is the first time in his career that Woods has withdrawn from a major.
-
PGA Championship
Matt Fitzpatrick relishing chance at securing first major title
A third round of 67 means Fitzpatrick trails leader Mito Pereira by three shots at the US PGA Championship.
-
PGA Championship
Tiger Woods withdraws from US PGA following his worst round at event
The American made the halfway cut with a shot to spare at Southern Hills, but struggled to a nine-over-par 79 in the third round.
-
PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy suffers early blow to slip further back at PGA Championship
After a run of five straight pars McIlroy pulled his tee shot to the par-three sixth into the water and ran up a double-bogey five.