Confident Tiger on course for another major

THOSE people unwise enough to write off Tiger Woods after his failure in the Masters and US Open may have large doses of humble pie as part of their diet by the end of next week.

Woods proved yet again if indeed such were necessary that he remains by far the most potent player in the game by winning the Western Open by a comfortable five shots at the weekend. Accordingly, this is the fifth successive year on which he has won at least four titles on the US Tour and as he made his way to Ireland yesterday for the start of his now customary holiday here before the Open Championship, he is brimful of confidence as he eagerly looks forward to Royal St Georges next week.

"Any time you win, it makes you feel good and there's no denying it, this is a big shot of confidence for the British Open," said Woods, who couldn't resist a dig at the newspapermen and media people who have been suggesting he was in a slump and was no longer the force he used to be.