Tiger Woods, safely into the second event of the US PGA Tour play-offs, hopes to build momentum at the Deutsche Bank Championship as he seeks a positive finish to a year best termed “different.”

“I’m starting to see some progress, which is nice,” Woods said as the field prepared for the start of the tournament yesterday.

“Mentally, I’m hitting the ball much better, hence I have more confidence. I’m driving the ball much straighter. It’s just a matter of making it a little bit more natural.”

Woods secured his spot in this tournament with an equal 12th-placed finish at The Barclays last week.

It was his first tournament since his divorce from ex-wife Elin Nordegren became final and his best finish in two months.

He is 65th in the FedEx Cup play-off standings and with only the top 70 advancing to the third play-off event – the BMW Championship – Woods needs another solid showing to earn a chance to defend the BMW title he won last year.

Woods has never failed to defend a title because he failed to qualify, but as Woods himself said: “It has been a different year.”

Since his return to golf in April following a sex scandal that engulfed his personal and professional life, Woods has struggled on and off the course.

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