Woods gets advice from Faldo on how to win back fans
FORMER Open champion Sir Nick Faldo has offered troubled world No1 Tiger Woods advice on how to repair the damage to his public image.
Woods, who starts his quest for a third Claret Jug this morning, has seen his name dragged through the mud since revelations about his infidelity emerged last year.
But Faldo, whose own private life has been the topic of moral debate, has a simple solution to improve the American’s reputation.
“Give,” said Faldo. “You give to them [spectators], they will give back. Simple as that. If you’re giving in any way, with smiles, comments, waves, good thoughts, I’m sure it will all come back.”
Woods has had a mixed reception since returning to competition, attracting criticism for exploiting his personal life in an advertisement but receiving some favourable reactions from crowds.
“Tiger is doing his own thing,” Faldo added. “He always has. Tiger has been Tiger for the 15 years he’s been out here. He believes he’s doing the right thing, so it’s his choice how he wants to do it.”
Woods is aiming for a 15th Major victory, but will need to do something he has not done since the storm surrounding his marriage broke: win a tournament. The 34-year-old finished a creditable fourth on his return at the Masters and matched that at the US Open, but has looked far short of his formidable best.
Yet he remains the bookmakers’ favourite to win the 150th Open and Peter Dawson, chief executive of the Royal and Ancient, thinks he could be primed to set tongues wagging about his golf again at last.
“I think Tiger regrets many things, he is trying to put them right and I believe he is succeeding actually,” he said. “Let’s hope this week is the week he gets his game back.”