Woods seeks 'home' comforts after priority switch

As the start of the Open approaches, the world No 1 still loves it but this time things are different. He is different.

For a start, he has a new putter, having decided to ditch the one that has won him 13 of his 14 majors, including the last two Opens at the 'home of golf' by eight and five shots.

But how Woods must wish that all he had to think about was his choice of clubs.

Shamed last winter into confessions about his serial adultery, the upheaval in his personal life has become such that, after spending the start of last week in Ireland, he flew home to Florida rather than fully focusing on his attempt for an unprecedented third St Andrews victory.

"I'm just trying to become a better person," he said. "All that really matters is that I have two beautiful kids and I'm trying to be the best dad I can possibly be.

"That's the most important thing of all. I went home and had a great time. That was an incredible experience to hang out with my kids. Normally I don't come over, play two days and then go back home. But the reason why I did is obviously for my kids.

"I don't practise as much as I used to because of the kids, nor should I – they're the most important things in my life."

Asked to comment on speculation that a divorce settlement may now have been agreed with Swedish wife Elin, Woods replied: "I'm not going to go into that."

Nor would he go beyond confirmation of the FBI interviewing him recently about Canadian doctor Anthony Galea, who helped him recover from his knee surgery in 2008, but has since been charged with administering unlawful drugs.

Woods has vehemently denied ever taking performance-enhancing substances.

"I can't go into any of that because of the fact that's an

on-going case. I can't comment," he said.

The three-times Open champion – he also won at Hoylake in 2006 – is hoping that his first switch of putters for 11 years can bring him his opening victory of the season.

A few years ago, when he made winning majors look easy, a guessing game was to pick the tournament when he might go past the 18-major record of Jack Nicklaus.

This week was a popular choice, but since winning the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines on one good leg he has failed to add to his tally.

However, despite all that has happened to him off the course and despite some shocking golf this year, he is still the world's top-ranked player and he is still the clear favourite to take the Claret Jug.

That has not changed. But so much else has and the truth is that, a year on from his first missed cut in the Open, no one knows what Woods will do at his favourite course.