Tiger hunts Buick title
2006-08-02 11:13
Los Angeles - British Open champion Tiger
Woods returns to action at the Buick Open in Grand
Blanc, Michigan with his sights set on a fifth victory of the
year.
American Woods, who clinched his 11th career major at
Hoylake last month, has a good record at the par-72 layout at
Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club, winning in 2002 and
producing five top-five finishes in his six appearances.
The world number one has said he always feels comfortable
at the course and attributes a major part of his success at the
tournament to that comfort level.
Woods, who has won three titles on the 2006 PGA Tour along
with the European Tour's Dubai Desert Classic in February,
faces a strong field this week including defending champion
Vijay Singh and world number four Jim Furyk.
Like Woods, Furyk has five top-10 finishes in his last six
Buick starts and arrives fresh from a fourth placing at the
British Open.
"It's been a good year," the 2003 US Open champion told
reporters on Tuesday.
"It's always going to get compared to 2003 when I had the
best year of my career. This year has been the same and
better," added the 36-year-old, who won his 11th PGA Tour title
at the Wachovia Championship in May and tied for second at the
US Open the following month.
"I wanted to focus on playing better in the majors this
year, so my form has been in good shape. I'm hoping to finish
the year strong."
Excitable crowds
Singh, the world number three, would dearly love to win a
record fourth Buick Open title and considers the course one of
his favourites.
He became the first player to win the tournament for a
third time last year, holding off a late charge by Woods to
retain the crown by five shots.
Apart from Woods, Singh and Furyk, eighth-ranked Australian
Geoff Ogilvy is the other member of the world's top 10 playing
this week.
The US Open champion finished joint runner-up behind
Furyk at Warwick Hills in 2003 and relishes playing in the
event.
"I've always been there or thereabouts, top 20 most of the
time, and I was only a good putting week away from winning
here," Ogilvy said.
"I feel comfortable here and I really enjoy the tournament.
The crowds are some of the most excitable anywhere all year, so
it's a lot of fun."
The Buick Open starts on Thursday.
- Reuters