Tiger makes strides in search of old form

GAINESVILLE – Tiger Woods, trying to recapture the form that won 14 major titles, says he made “big strides” in reviving his game at the PGA Quicken Loans National despite a failed Sunday charge.

Tournament host Woods birdied five of the first 10 holes, including a 42-foot birdie putt at the par-3 ninth, but then made bogeys on three of the next four holes.

The 39-year-old American answered with an eight-foot birdie putt at 17 but settled for a three-under par 68 final round to finish on eight-under 276 – his lowest 72-hole score in relation to par at a PGA event since the 2013 BMW Championship.

“I started off well and really hit the ball well and looking at the whole week in general, felt like I made some big strides,” Woods said.

“My short game is starting to come back to where it used to be. Everything is kind of trending in the correct direction now.”

Woods has slumped to 266th in world rankings and fired some of his worst career rounds this season due to injuries and swing changes. He missed the cut at the US and British Opens, eclipsing good feelings he said that he took from St. Andrews.