Woods preparation for major alters

IN: News | US PGA | Buick Open (2002) | General | by Bruce Young | 30 Jul 2002

For the first time since the PGA in 2000, Tiger Woods will play the week immediately preceeding a major. He has announced that he will play the Buick Open at Warwick Hills in Grand Blanc, Michigan the week prior to the PGA at Hazeltine.

Woods's normal preparation for a major has involved taking the week prior off in order to prepare himself. Playing the week before the PGA in 2000 did not do him any harm however, as he went on to win the next week.

Clearly he feels the need to get some competitive golf under his belt. He had five weeks off between the US and the British Opens and has not played competitively, other then in today's Battle at Big Horn, since. Not playing this week at The International, would have meant only two tournaments in nine weeks should he have chosen to miss the Buick. Hardly the right preparation for such a significant event, even if you are Tiger Woods

Position	Score	Player	R1	R2	R3	R4	Total
1	-17	Tiger Woods	67	63	71	70	271
T2	-13	Brian Gay	69	71	67	68	275
T2	-13	Esteban Toledo	68	67	67	73	275
T2	-13	Fred Funk	71	66	67	71	275
T2	-13	Mark O'Meara	68	69	70	68	275
T6	-12	Bob Tway	71	65	68	72	276
T6	-12	Pat Bates	68	67	73	68	276
T6	-12	Paul Azinger	69	70	69	68	276
T6	-12	Tom Byrum	70	68	68	70	276

Position	Score	Player	R1	R2	R3	R4	Total
T22	-9	Stuart Appleby	71	68	70	70	279
T29	-8	Geoff Ogilvy	72	70	69	69	280
T29	-8	John Senden	68	69	71	72	280
T39	-7	Rod Pampling	69	66	74	72	281
T43	-6	Craig Perks	70	72	71	69	282
T66	-4	Steve Allan	72	68	71	73	284
81	+5	Phil Tataurangi	71	71	76	75	293
Cut -2
CUT	-1	Michael Long	74	69	-	-	143
CUT	-1	Paul Gow	74	69	-	-	143
CUT	Ev	Frank Nobilo	71	73	-	-	144
CUT	Ev	Mathew Goggin	70	74	-	-	144
CUT	+1	Grant Waite	72	73	-	-	145
CUT	+1	Greg Chalmers	70	75	-	-	145
CUT	+2	Craig Parry	72	74	-	-	146
CUT	+5	Robert Allenby	73	76	-	-	149
CUT	+12	Bradley Hughes	76	80	-	-	156

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About the Author: Bruce Young

A multi-award winning golf journalist, Bruce's extensive knowledge of the game comes from several years caddying the tournament circuits of the world, marketing a successful golf course design company and as one of Australia's leading golf journalists and commentators.

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