Tiger Woods puts on a brave face as he battles his demons at Sawgrass

A day after frustration got the better of him to the extent that he declined the opportunity to discuss the current state of his game, Tiger Woods signed off from the Players Championship with not only a round of 72 but expansive analysis and the promise of imminent success. Then off he strode, through the disappointed autograph hunters; it will be early June when Woods will be seen again, in the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village.

Woods was asked, bluntly, whether he saw himself winning this year. The answer was immediate: “Absolutely.”

But how, when in the midst of such technical change – which occasionally regresses into chaos – is such a concept actually feasible? “It is hard,” he admitted.

“I have done it a few times, though. Don’t forget I’ve done this a few times throughout my career and it takes time. Going back to that period of time from 1997 to 1999, I didn’t do anything. I think I won one tournament overseas and that was it. I struggled for a long time before it clicked in. But then I had a decent run. It takes time.

“I had a good warm-up session every day here, hit the ball very well, and then I’m able now to practise after rounds, which is huge. Because for a long time there you like to make changes, but I couldn’t practise after a round, because my back was so bad.”

Of course, Woods should not be castigated for an optimistic outlook. If he does not believe in himself, there would be little point in anybody else doing likewise. Yet the state of his game is perplexing; the 14-times major winner aims so many shots left, attempting to hit soft cuts, which can result in disaster. He can either smother the ball straight left or slice it wildly right, both of which are the consequence of being tentative. These troubles were on show over four days at Sawgrass.

A day after frustration got the better of him to the extent that he declined the opportunity to discuss the current state of his game, Tiger Woods signed off from the Players Championship with not only a round of 72 but expansive analysis and the promise of imminent success. Then off he strode, through the disappointed autograph hunters; it will be early June when Woods will be seen again, in the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village.

Woods was asked, bluntly, whether he saw himself winning this year. The answer was immediate: “Absolutely.”

But how, when in the midst of such technical change – which occasionally regresses into chaos – is such a concept actually feasible? “It is hard,” he admitted.

“I have done it a few times, though. Don’t forget I’ve done this a few times throughout my career and it takes time. Going back to that period of time from 1997 to 1999, I didn’t do anything. I think I won one tournament overseas and that was it. I struggled for a long time before it clicked in. But then I had a decent run. It takes time.

“I had a good warm-up session every day here, hit the ball very well, and then I’m able now to practise after rounds, which is huge. Because for a long time there you like to make changes, but I couldn’t practise after a round, because my back was so bad.”

Of course, Woods should not be castigated for an optimistic outlook. If he does not believe in himself, there would be little point in anybody else doing likewise. Yet the state of his game is perplexing; the 14-times major winner aims so many shots left, attempting to hit soft cuts, which can result in disaster. He can either smother the ball straight left or slice it wildly right, both of which are the consequence of being tentative. These troubles were on show over four days at Sawgrass.