DUBLIN, Ohio – Tiger Woods didn’t just have a five-month competitive layoff to worry about when he entered the Tournament of Remembrance over the weekend.
He also had playing conditions equivalent to those of a major tournament that fixed him for all four days. Woods ended the Memorial by shooting a 4-over 76 in the last round to finish 6 on a par, his third worst overall score compared to the par in the tournament in 18 appearances. He drew for the 40th.
“These were some of the most difficult conditions I’ve played for a long time,” said Woods. “[Sunday] the golf course has become fast and fast. It was difficult to get the ball close, and it wasn’t there – I don’t think there will be too many low scores [Sunday]”.
His final round 76 equaled Woods’ worst third-round score at the tournament. He shot a 79 in 2013 and an 85 in 2015.
Woods struggled with his consistency on Sunday, as he did in the second round, when he had to wait until the end of the day to find out if he had made the cut.
He had an initial birdie for the second time in the tournament, but he had three carts and a double cart to shoot a 40 out of the top nine. Woods played 71 rounds at Memorial and, as many players have said, believes that the path designed by Jack Nicklaus has probably played as hard as in all his years that have participated in the tournament.
“It’s probably as fast as I’ve seen in a while,” said Woods. “It’s been a while since we’ve had such fast conditions, but that’s how Jack loves it. It’s only if Mother Nature will allow it or not. I think it’s set – it’s difficult, but it’s not an overstatement. Good shots will be rewarded and bad shots will be severely punished. “
Woods seemed to be well on his way to his second worst Memorial Tournament when he returned to # 1 again. 11, but avoided a complete disaster by killing n. 16, who was playing as the toughest hole on the course on Sunday, and 17 before bogeying after about an hour late due to the weather in the area.
To put in perspective how difficult the path was for Woods, he shot a 76 in two of his last three rounds at Memorial. He had shot so high only three times in the first 68 career rounds that he played at Muirfield Village Golf Club.
“Difficult and difficult conditions to start my first week, Thursday and Sunday,” he said. “But it was great to have the feeling and flow to compete again.”
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