Goosen turns corner with tie for second in Miami

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DORAL, Fla. -- Retief Goosen may be a two-time U.S. Open champion, but for the better part of the last year, he hasn't exactly played like one.

Should Retief Goosen's Tiger-like Sunday black and red have tipped us off to how well he would finish? (Cannon/GettyImages)

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Video: Goosen birdies early
Video: Goosen lends a hand

Until Monday, that is, when Goosen tied for second at the World Golf Championships-CA Championship. The finish was his first top 10 in 49 weeks dating back to the 2007 Masters where he shared second with Tiger Woods and Rory Sabbatini, two strokes behind Zach Johnson.

Normally guarded in his remarks to the media, Goosen was positively garrulous as he discussed a week playing Doral's Blue Monster that was highlighted by a third-round 64. He finished one stroke off the pace set by Geoff Ogilvy and kept company at 16 under with Vijay Singh and Jim Furyk.

"It's nice to get the game going a little bit," Goosen admitted. "I got off to a slow start in the first round, and then from the second nine holes in the second round, I started making a few putts and hitting it a bit closer.

"Obviously, yesterday's round was the round that got me in contention. You know, it's a pity I couldn't have had just one shot better, but overall very happy."

Goosen wasn't finished playing, either. He took a charter home to Orlando to compete Monday afternoon in the Tavistock Cup that pits residents of Lake Nona against Islelworth. Next up is the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, his sixth straight tournament.

Goosen, who was once a member of the vaulted "Big Five" with Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els and Vijay Singh, had slipped to 37th in the world entering the CA Championship. That second-place finish in the star-studded field improved his position by 11 spots and provided evidence that his hard work was paying off.

Goosen changed his putting stroke three weeks ago, trying to recapture the magic he had in the early 2000s when he won his two U.S. Open titles in a four-year span. Something clicked at Bay Hill, where he tied for 14th, and the confidence carried over at Doral.

"If you can make putts, you can score, and that's what I did this week," said Goosen, who tied for 12th in putts made with an average of 27.2, at Doral. "I made a few good putts but just came up one short, really."

Goosen has also been working with his instructor, Gregor Jamieson, to shore up his swing. The backswing was a little across the line at the top, but he's gotten it much more in line now.

"This was my (sixth) event in a row, and I was determined to keep going to get my game in shape," the South African said. "You know, I don't like to practice a lot, so I felt playing a lot was the only way to get my game back into shape.

"Definitely the putting has improved a lot and the chipping. I still need to work on the driving a little bit, but, overall, things are getting pretty good. I'm looking forward to the Masters."

And the best part of the week? Getting in the hunt for his first PGA TOUR title since the 2005 INTERNATIONAL.

"I was a bit nervous this time," Goosen admitted with a smile.

And next time? Well, who knows what might happen? Goosen is definitely moving in the right direction, though.