10AM TO 10.45AM: Physiotherapy at the Singapore Sports Institute Sports physiotherapist Fadian Ye massages national bowler Jazreel Tan’s toes. To distract Tan from the discomfort, Ye chats with her about her recent trip to Europe, where she competed in two tournaments.

“Stretching is the worst part. It’s very draggy and boring. But I know it’s necessary, especially with all the injuries I’ve had. It’s a bit like eating vegetables.”

11AM TO 1PM: Gym at the Singapore Sports Institute As part of circuit training, Tan does stretches and chin-ups. ST PHOTOS: KUA CHEE SIONG, AZIZ HUSSIN

3PM TO 6PM: Training at Orchard Bowl at Orchard Country Club Tan shares a light-hearted moment with team-mate Geraldine Ng (left).

Join us at the ST Athlete of the Year ceremony

The Straits Times is giving 20 readers a chance to attend the ST Athlete of the Year awards ceremony lunch in March. Winners will also have a chance to meet and greet the nominees for the award.

To stand a chance to win, simply choose the winning athlete from the five nominees and tell us why he/she should win the award in 50 words or less.

Nominees:

Jazreel Tan (bowling)

Bernie Chin (sailing)

Samantha Yom (sailing)

Joseph Schooling (swimming)

Aloysius Yapp (pool)

Send your entries to stsportscontest@sph.com.sg
by Feb 23, together with your contact details. Terms and conditions apply.

Tiger longs for a good short game

LA JOLLA (California) – Using his wedge, Tiger Woods hit two dozen balls from just off the second green of Torrey Pines’ North Course. His compulsive chipping called to mind someone hoping that with enough swings of a fly swatter he could silence the buzzing around his head.

There is nothing wrong with Woods’ short game that one solid chipping round could not cure. Unfortunately, his Farmer’s Insurance Open pro-am on Wednesday was not that round. Because of dense morning fog, the outing was shortened to nine holes.

By the time Woods finished, the fog had lifted, but the haze over his short game remained.

“Even if I make a bad swing, I know what the fix is,” he said. “My good is really good. Unfortunately, my bad is really bad.”

Coming off his worst round as a professional golfer, an 82 on the second day of last week’s Phoenix Open, the 14-time Major champion is back at a course where he has a long and storied history of success. Can those sweet memories override the unpleasant flashbacks that threaten to hijack his thoughts every time he stands over a chip?

He has found support in unlikely people, such as his long-time rival Phil Mickelson, who said Woods will have the last laugh over his critics.

Mickelson said: “I think we all have had stretches where we feel a little uncomfortable, we don’t hit it solid, and usually it’s just a small tweak.

“Because it’s such a short swing it’s not a hard thing to fix. I just don’t see that lasting more than a week or two.”

Still, Woods has fallen to 50th in the world rankings, in danger of failing to qualify for a World Golf Championships event for only the second time in his career.

NEW YORK TIMES, REUTERS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE