Tiger out but not down!

Tiger Woods - new equipment in his bag

  Tiger Woods crashed out of the WGC-Accenture World Match Play in Arizona - losing 4&2 to South African Tim Clark - but revealed he's got new equipment in his bag as well as a new sponsor emblazoned on it.

Amid the worldwide global recession, car giant Buick had to withdraw its association with the world No.1, but telecom moguls AT&T, sponsors of the annual PGA Tour's pro-am at Pebble Beach, have stepped in to sponsor his bag in which a new Nike driver is prominent under the Tiger headcover.

Woods used a Nike SQ Dymo driver with 8.5 degrees of loft, powered by a Mitsubishi Diamana White Board 83x shaft - identical to the one used in his previous Nike SQ Tour driver.

Tiger's differed from the Dymo, which will be available shortly in a traditional and a square shape, in that it didn't feature the STR8-Fit system that allows golfers to change the face angle, lie angle and loft of the club with the twist of a wrench supplied with the club.

Apparently Woods says he prefers not to have a club he can tinker with, so he's not tempted to change the specification for different events and conditions.

Woods, who was hit by a Clark birdie barrage on 11,12 and 13, which proved the turning point, also used set of Nike's latest Victory Red TW forged blade irons that he has helped to develop.

Nike Dymo STR8-Fit version

Commenting on his round, Woods said he was disappointed to go out of the tournament but was taking positives from it before the next World Golf Championship event at Doral.

"I hit one bad 8-iron and one bad drive so I'm happy with the way I was striking the ball," he said. "Tim is a wonderful player and he made birdies while I didn't sink enough putts. I feel great, though, and I will go home to evaluate what to do next."

He said he also felt no ill-effects from the knee surgery.

"It felt really good. I was pleased that walking down the cart paths and playing, getting some rhythm of playing, that I have no soreness, no pain. Now it's just a matter of getting back and playing more rounds."