By Steve Keating
With his divorce finalized, a spot on the U.S. Ryder Cup squad confirmed and his game pointed in the right direction, Woods's world seemed to be slipping back into a familiar orbit on a sunny day at Cog Hill Golf and Country Club where he has been a winner five times.
"It's always nice to come back to a venue that I've won but also I've won it multiple times and in different ways," Woods told reporters. "I can always kind of go back to that no matter how I'm playing. I can still figure out a way to get it done."
Winless after 11 starts, Woods arrives at the third stop on the FedEx Cup playoff playing his best golf of the season.
He finished in a tie for 12th at The Barclays and tied for 11th at the Deutsche Bank Championship - where he had three straight rounds in the 60s for the first time this year.
The good vibes continued to flow on Tuesday when U.S. Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin made the world number one a wild card pick for the squad that will take on Europe at Celtic Manor in Wales from October 1-3.
Woods was even in a bit of playful mood when he met with the media on Wednesday until asked about working relationship with swing guru Sean Foley and if he was paying him.
"That's none of your business," snapped the American.
Pressed further, Woods came as close as he has to confirming the Canadian as his new swing coach saying: "He's coaching me."
Still, Woods has seized on every positive as a sign of something to build on.
His next target is the Tour Championship in Atlanta and the world number one is projected to need a top-five finish at the BMW to clinch a spot in the elite 30 man field.
"Obviously the confidence is coming up ... I've put a lot of hard work into it," said Woods.
"That's been nice to see the progress, to be able to go out there and hit the golf ball the way I know I can, know the fixes and understand the concept.
(Editing by Frank Pingue)
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