Roger Federer took on a rare sideshow role as he followed a practice round with golfing buddy Tiger Woods prior to resuming preparation for the Miami Masters which began on Wednesday.
The Swiss world No. 1 has been in Florida for a few days after a shock opening-round at Indian Wells.
But amid an intense workout at the second major event in succession during the month, he has come good on a plan to catch up with Woods as the golf great plays the WGC-CA Championship, which started yesterday.
The pair, both stars in the same management stable, have been meeting on a semi-regular basis, with chats at the US Open and last month when both were in Dubai for their various sporting disciplines.
Woods, a runaway world-beater in his speciality as Federer is on the court, praised his friend's current form.
"What he has done over the last three years, no one's ever done," Woods said at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa. "He lost at Indian Wells. Other than that, he's lost only five or six matches for each of the last three years. That's pretty good."
Woods said it was refreshing to have "probably the most dominant athlete on the planet in your gallery."
Ten-time Grand Slam winner Federer lost to Gillermo Canas in California, ending a 41-match win streak.
He cheered himself up somewhat with a meal aboard the private yacht of the Florida-based golfer on Tuesday.
Looking ahead to tomorrow's start against either Russian Igor Andreev or American Sam Query, Federer said that losing had given him the luxury of some time off.
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