Woosnam back with renewed confidence
Twelve months ago Ian Woosnam was considering quitting golf after finishing fifth behind Miguel Angel Jimenez in the Celtic Manor Wales Open.
But today the Welshman tees off in the same event insisting he has a chance to win his 30th European Tour event in his 501st appearance, succeeding his Ryder Cup vice captain Des Smyth as the oldest tour winner into the bargain.
Last year Woosnam went into the final round just a shot off the lead but again struggled with his putting and could only manage a closing 68, one under par.
“I am going to go away now and chuck the clubs away for a few weeks. Might chuck them away altogether,” Woosnam said at the time.
“I am close to it. If my putting doesn’t improve they are going in the bag forever. I’m cheesed off with it.”
Woosnam ended up taking three weeks off and then missed the cut in his next six events, but has recently shown signs of a return to form with solid displays in the last four tournaments.
“I had a bit of the twitches in the last couple of rounds here last year but I’ve got the long putter this week and hopefully I’ll be able to knock the short ones in,” said Woosnam, whose last strokeplay victory was back in 1997.
“I’ve usually done well in Wales and my back has improved over the last couple of weeks. I was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis back in 1987 and have been taking anti-inflammatories for 19 years – if I didn’t I would not be able to play golf.
“When I saw the doctor he said he had good news and bad news. The good news was I might be able to play for 10 years, and the bad was that I could be in a wheelchair. Funnily enough I went onto the pills and had the best year of my life and won eight tournaments.
“I’ve been working with Bob Torrance recently and getting my swing near where it used to be. I’ve put on a bit of distance as well and feel I’ve actually got a chance of winning this week. It’s been a long time since I thought that.
“I feel I haven’t had a good putting week for as long as I can remember. I can have two good putting days and then two poor ones and shoot 74 or 75. I still feel I can win and I want to win again before I’m 50.
“Fifteen years ago I would come in and say I was going to win the tournament. If my putting was good I knew I was going to win certain tournaments. These days my putting isn’t strong enough to say that but I am working on it.”
Woosnam was among the later starters this afternoon, playing alongside Ryder Cup hopefuls Jimenez – the defending champion – and England’s Nick Dougherty.
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