Tiger Woods heads home before Open

Tiger Woods has gone home to prepare for The Open at St Andrews, deciding against any links practice as he goes in search of Major number 15 next week

Tiger Woods has gone home to prepare for The Open at St Andrews, deciding against any links practice as he goes in search of Major number 15 next week.

The 34-year-old, who came over from America for the JP McManus Pro-Am in Limerick at the weekend, will spend the lead up to the third Major of the season at home in Florida.

In the past Woods has geared up for The Open by playing various Irish links courses, but this year the world number one will not arrive in Scotland until Sunday at the earliest.

"I need to get home. See my kids," said Woods, who admitted to cheating on his wife at an emotional press conference in February.

Two months after that Woods was rarely at his best at The Masters despite coming fourth, and his struggles have been witnessed ever since.

That said, Woods could have won last month's US Open but for a disappointing final round and St Andrews, where he won The Open in 2005, has always been one of his favourite courses. 

The three-time Open winner, added: ""Something I need to work on is my lag putting (long, well-weighted putts) and there will be a lot of long putts at St Andrews."

"This is where it all started and to win at the home of golf, it has such a special feeling."

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