On the golf course, things are looking up for Tiger Woods. Off the links, not so much.
After a brutal start to 2015 and a long hiatus, Woods showed promise with a top-20 finish at this year’s Masters Tournament. The 39-year-old’s life took a turn for the worse Sunday, however, when skier Lindsey Vonn announced that she and Woods had ended their three-year relationship.
Woods is set to tee off at The Players Championship on Thursday, but in a press conference Tuesday, he candidly admitted that things haven’t been easy of late.
“It is tough, there’s no doubt,” Woods told reporters, via ESPN. “I’m not going to lie about that. It is tough. And on top of that, this time of year is really, really hard on me.”
On top of Woods’ breakup, Sunday also marked the nine-year anniversary of the death of his father, Earl Woods, who passed away on May 3, 2006. According to Woods, those two factors have led to some sleepless nights.
“This three-day window is really hard,” he added. “I haven’t slept these three days, May 3rd and through the 5th, today, is just brutal on me. And then with obviously what happened on Sunday, it just adds to it.”
Despite his personal struggles and apparent insomnia, Woods said he’s prepared for the weekend and hopes to block everything out when he tees off at TPC Sawgrass.
“Once you’re inside the ropes, it’s time to tee it up and time to play,” Woods said. “You go out there, and for me I focus, I get into my little world, my little zone and do the best I possibly can. … Because at the end, to me, that’s what I want to do that particular week, is win a tournament.”
Thumbnail photo via Michael Madrid/USA TODAY Sports Images
