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Breakups suck, there’s no two ways about it.
And even Tiger Woods is reeling from his split with Lindsey Vonn, whom he dated for three years.
The professional golfer opened up to reporters Tuesday morning in Florida about how hard it’s been to deal with the end of his relationship while preparing for this week’s Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.
“Obviously it does affect me. It is tough. There’s no doubt. I’m not going to lie about that. It is tough,” he explained when asked if his game has been hindered by the goings on in his personal life.
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“And on top of that, this time of year is really, really hard on me. This three-day window is really hard. I haven’t slept. These three days, May 3rd and through the 5th, today is just brutal on me, and then obviously with what happened on Sunday, it just adds to it.”
The timing comes at an especially difficult week for Woods, whose father, Earl Woods, passed away nine years ago on May 3.
The longtime athlete added that he’s generally pretty good about compartmentalizing things in life for the sake of golf.
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“That’s kind of always how it’s been. I’ve always had to deal with circumstances on both, deal with stuff outside the ropes, and once you’re inside the ropes it’s time to tee it up and time to play.”
The father of two continued, “I focus, I get into my little world, my little zone and I do the best I possibly can…for a five-hour period…grind it out and win golf tournaments.”
Woods explained that the anniversary of his father’s passing, paired with his recent split from the Olympian, only further fuels his desire to be the best he can be.
“[In] the end, what I want to do at that particular week is win a tournament.”
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