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Last Updated: Feb 18th, 2008 - 14:39:01 |
CARLSBAD, California (Reuters) - Twice winner Tiger Woods is in upbeat mood for this week's WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, despite pulling out of the Nissan Open three days ago because flu.
Woods, who won his first two tournaments of the year via playoffs, withdrew before the start of the third round at Riviera Country Club after losing five pounds (2.27 kg) in weight through fever.
"I feel good right now, although not quite 100 percent yet," the world number one told reporters at La Costa Resort and Spa on Tuesday as he prepared for Wednesday's opening round.
"I had a fever for three days at Riviera and playing in the wet and cold of the second round just did me in there.
"I'd already lost enough weight. I tried to make the cut and kept grinding away but made some mistakes," added the 10-times major champion.
"Since then, I have just laid around and tried to recover.
"Overall, I feel good about what I'm working on and I am really excited about playing tomorrow."
RANKINGS MEANINGLESS
Woods, who starts out at La Costa against Canada's Stephen Ames, knows world rankings and pedigree are meaningless in the context of matchplay golf.
"Anyone is easy to beat in 18 holes because anyone in the field here can shoot a low number at any time," the 30-year-old American said. "It's important to get off to a positive start.
"Basically, when you play matchplay events, it's the final round on the first day. You just don't know what you're going to get. It's a totally different mindset."
Woods has a mixed record at La Costa. He won the title in 2003 and 2004 but suffered a surprise first-round defeat to Australia's Peter O'Malley in 2002 and lost to another Australian, Nick O'Hern, in the second round last year.
"That first round when I lost to Peter, it was not a great feeling," Woods recalled. "But I have some great memories here. I have played well here over the years."
Woods, who triumphed at the Buick Invitational in San Diego in late January before clinching the European Tour's Dubai Desert Classic the following week, has a win-loss ratio of 21-4 at the Accenture Match Play Championship.
In all individual WGC (World Golf Championships) events, he has won 10 times in 19 starts.
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