The 15-time major winner has made a fast yet painful recovery to golf since sustaining serious leg injuries inside a car accident in February 2021, opening using a exceptional comeback at the Experts in April after almost 17 months far from the sport.
Woods made the cut but — with a rod and pins in his right leg — visibly struggled with the hilly Augusta terrain. This individual made the reduce again at the PGA Championship in Tulsa the following month, but withdrew from your major after the third round having accepted to extensive discomfort in his leg. In June, he announced he would not play the united states Open to give his entire body “more time. ”
Yet despite these struggles, Woods had established one clear target the minute he recognized he could once again perform to a “high level” — to play the 150th Open in “the home of golf. ”
“My concentrate was to get back here, ” the 46-year-old told reporters at St . Andrews on Tuesday.
“It’s incredible, the history at the rear of it, the winners that have won right here… this does feel like it’s the biggest Open Championship we’ve ever had.
“This entire year has been something that I’m very proud of… to be able to play during these tournaments when it looked like I would never have this opportunity ever again, ” he added.
‘A lot stronger’
Earmarked as his favorite course, the Course at St Andrews holds an unique place in Woods’ center as the host in order to two of their three Open benefits in 2000 plus 2005 respectively. The very first of these wins noticed the American become one of just five golfers — as well as the youngest — to accomplish the Career Grand Throw.
A flatter course than Augusta, it also offers a more accommodating atmosphere to Woods, assisted by conditioning operate the months given that have helped him to feel “a lot stronger. ”
“I’ve gotten an opportunity to work in the weight room and get stronger and obtain the endurance better in my leg, ” he said.
“Playing Augusta, my leg had not been in any condition to try out 72 holes. It just ran out of gas, but it’s different now. inch
Yet he had utilized that exact phrasing — “a lot stronger” — ahead of Augusta, plus referencing the rugged terrain at St . Andrews, Woods had been candid about the bodily challenges he nevertheless faces.
After playing eighteen holes Sunday and nine apiece through the following two days, this individual plans to take Wed off before the tournament begins Thursday.
“My entire body certainly can get better, but realistically, not really a whole lot, ” he or she said.
“It’s the unevenness that is still hard on me, Excellent lot of hardware within my leg, so it is what it is. It’s going to be difficult. ”
A St . Andrews farewell?
They are the kind of difficulties that have forced Woods into significantly reducing his plan, to the extent that he admitted he will never ever again play a full schedule. His 2 major appearances in the Masters and the PGA Championship earlier this year marked his sole 2 events on the PGA Tour this season, along with home practice their sole preparation.
With the Open up rotated around a number of locations, it remains to be seen whether the 150th edition would represent Woods’ sixth and last St . Andrews appearance at the major.
Subsequently, in order to potentially play his final Open to the Old Course — the site of their debut in the event — would be poignant for that three-time winner.
“I don’t know, if it is that long [six or seven years], whether or not I will be able to in physical form compete at this degree by then, ” Hardwoods said.
“It’s also a primary reason why I wanted to try out in this championship. We don’t know what the career is going to be like.
“I’m not going to play a complete schedule ever again, my figure just won’t let me do that. I can’t say for sure how many Open Championships I have left here at St . Andrews, yet I wanted this one.
“It started here for me in ’95, and when it ends here in ’22, it does. If this doesn’t, it doesn’t. Easily get the chance to enjoy one more, it would be excellent, but there’s no guarantee. ”
McIlroy ‘can see’ a Hardwoods victory
Quizzed on Woods’ physical condition earlier Tuesday, Rory McIlroy shared the American’s self assessment that he felt within stronger shape, regardless of enduring difficulties.
“He was moving better than I’d seen him move around in a while, ” the Northern Irishman informed reporters.
“Hitting the golf ball and swinging the club aren’t the matter, it’s the walking section of it that’s the struggle.
“But he seemed to be moving well. Everything looked pretty good yesterday, therefore that’s encouraging. inch
McIlroy is targeting their second Open win after triumph in Royal Liverpool within 2014 and feels Woods is in the law to seal exactly what would be a stunning fourth should strong wind gusts continue into the weekend break.
“I think the way the golf course is and the way the conditions are usually, I could certainly find it, ” McIlroy said of a Woods win.
“It’s going to be a game of chess recently, and no one’s already been better at playing that sort of chess game on a course than Tiger over the last 20 years. ”