Rate it!

0 votes

Tiger Woods enjoyed watching good friend Roger Federer finally win his first French Open tennis title.

A few hours before Woods was scheduled to tee off in Sunday's fourth round of the Memorial tournament in Dublin, Ohio, he made time to view television coverage of Federer's emotional breakthrough in Paris.

"I was pulling for him," American world number one Woods said after clinching his 67th US PGA Tour title with a one-shot victory at the Memorial.

"You know, it's fun to watch your friends go out there and play and compete. I get just as nervous doing that because they're my friends."

Federer, who had lost the previous three French Open finals to Spaniard Rafael Nadal, crushed Swede Robin Soderling 6-1 7-6 6-4 in Paris to complete the full set of Grand Slam crowns.

The Swiss equalled Pete Sampras's record of 14 Slams, becoming only the sixth man to win all four.

"I was as nervous as can be for him," said Woods, who has piled up 14 Major titles in golf to trail only Jack Nicklaus (18) in the all-time listings.

"A couple of times there, Soderling had break point in the third set. Roger is off a break, and I'm like: 'Don't lose this break!' I was yelling at the TV, the whole deal."

Woods, who played 18 holes with his swing coach Hank Haney at Bethpage's Black Course in New York on Monday in preparation for next week's US Open, has always enjoyed watching Federer.

"It's just truly remarkable when he gets it going," Woods said. "He hits shots that nobody else can hit. It's fun to watch."

The pair have been close friends since Woods watched the Swiss win the 2006 US Open.

Reuters