Woods not worried by threat to status

Tiger Woods believes his game is slowly coming together as he prepares to start the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron which could end with him being dethroned as world number one.

The 34-year-old last won a title at the BMW Championship in September 2009, two months before his life was transformed following revelations about his extra-marital affairs which prompted Woods to take a break from the game.

Woods is still looking for his first win since he returned in April but he feels there are reasons for optimism as he looks to claim his fifth consecutive Firestone title.

He said: "I've been through stretches when I haven't won and it's a matter of putting the pieces together and being patient, it's not something that happens overnight.

"I'm not one of those players who plays really badly and then really well. You start seeing trends and I've started to put things together and I am very excited."

Woods appeared unconcerned by the threat to his status which could see him replaced as number one by either Lee Westwood or Phil Mickelson.