6/07/2011

Tiger Tweets the Steinberg News

Woods and Steinberg at The Players

Tiger Woods has broken his long-term ties with sports management giant IMG, but has retained the services of former IMG agent Mark Steinberg.

He made that clear in a Twitter message on Monday.

The 35-year-old long-time World No 1 who is down to No 15 since his career was disrupted by personal problems and injuries, had been with Cleveland-based IMG since he turned professional in 1996 and has had Steinberg as his IMG agent for the last 12 years.

But Steinberg failed to renew his contract last week and left IMG, reportedly after the two parties failed to agree on the terms of a new contract.

Woods's Twitter message said: "Staying with Mark Steinberg. Total confidence in him. Excited about the next stage in my professional life. Fond memories of (late IMG founder) Mark McCormack."

Having made what clearly would have been a difficult business decision, Woods must now get his golfing career back on track as he works at overcoming his ankle and Achilles heel injuries and perfecting his latest swing change in time for next week's US Open at Congressional in Bethesda, Maryland.

Woods withdrew last month from the Players Championship after just nine holes and missed last week's Memorial due to his injuries and, it has been reported, he has been wearing an immobilizing boot on his ankle and hopes various therapies and treatments will allow him to compete at Congressional..

The 14-time major winner, who needs four more titles to match the record 18 Majors won by Jack Nicklaus, tied for fourth at the Masters in April this year after a final-round charge, but did not play again until his Players debacle where he shot 42 for the only nine holes he played.

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McGinley and Lowry Miss Open Chance

Paul McGinley

Paul McGinley and Shane Lowry failed to make the make the field for the next month's Open Golf Championship following the final international qualifying event at Sunningdale on Monday.

10 places were up for grabs in the 36-hole qualifier, but McGinley with a combined total of 137 and Lowry on 141, were both well outside the score of 127 set by England's Graeme Storm.

The duo could still make Royal St George's with a top-five finish at either the French or Scottish Opens, while two spots are available through a mini-money list on the European Tour which continues at this week's Italian Open.

Colin Montgomerie saw his hopes of competing at a 22nd straight Open end when he finished last in the 36-hole qualifying event.

Wales Open winner Alex Noren and 2002 Open runner-up Thomas Levet booked their spots along with Gary Boyd, Peter Whiteford, Alejandro Canizares, Kenneth Ferrie, Gregory Bourdy, Richard McEvoy and George Coetzee.

In the United States Sergio Garcia, who only last month said he would not try to qualify, squeezed into the US Open by surviving a seven-man playoff for four spots in one of Monday's 11, nationwide, 36-hole qualifiers.

Vijay Singh's did not bother showing up for the 36-hole qualifier in Columbus, just one day after closing with a 65 at the Memorial. 

He has not missed a major since the 1994 US Open, a stretch of 67 majors in a row which had been the longest current streak in golf.