Tiger Woods can bounce back to the top in 2011: Atwal

KOLKATA - Star golfer Tiger Woods has it in him to bounce back to the top and 2011 could be his year, said Arjun Atwal.

Woods, once rated as a role model both on and off the court, occupied the global headlines for months after his serial sexcapades came to the fore. He lost form and the world number one spot to Lee Westwood while his dalliances also cost him millions of dollars of endorsements. Tiger’s marriage with Swedish-born beauty Elin Nordegren has also ended in a messy divorce.

Asked whether Tiger could make a comeback, Indian golfer Arjun Atwal told the media: “Why not? Mentally, he has changed a lot in the last two months.”

Atwal said post-divorce, Tiger has become a different person, who is slowly coming into the groove. “I can bet 2011 will be his year.”

On what made Woods so special, Atwal replied: “In my top form I can beat anyone in the circuit, but beating Tiger is a different ball game. He has this ability to beat anyone.”

“He may not be superhuman, but he is born with this ability to beat anyone.”

However, Atwal did not think that Tiger was the most dominant player in an individual sport.

“I think Jack Nicklaus and Roger Federer are the two most dominant players ever in individual sport. But Tiger can be the most dominant player, if like Nicklaus, he manages to win 18 or more majors.”