Tuesday, May 17, 2022. 7:02 p.m.
TULSA, Okla. – For Tiger Woods, what matters more than anything are the Grand Slam tournaments and the legacy we leave behind.
It was an opinion he asserted on Tuesday while shooting an arrow at Phil Mickelson and his support for a Saudi-funded golf organization that resulted in ‘Lefty’ missing out on the Championship. PGA, of which he is the defending champion.
As Woods resumes his remarkable comeback from an automobile accident 15 months ago that nearly led to the amputation of his right leg, the PGA Championship cannot escape the absence of Mickelson and to speculation surrounding the identities of golfers who could join Greg Norman’s new Saudi-backed golf series.
Woods said he hasn’t attempted to get in touch with Mickelson since the latter walked away from the golf scene three months ago, largely because of their differences over how golf should be directed.
“I understand that there may be different points of view, but I believe in the legacy that is left behind. I believe in major tournaments. I believe in high-profile events, in comparisons to historical figures of the past,” Woods said.
“There’s a lot of money here,” he added. The circuit is expanding. But it’s like any other sport – it’s like tennis – you have to go out there and win it. You have to go out there and play to win it. We have the opportunity to go ahead and do that. It’s just that it’s not guaranteed in advance. »
Last Friday, Mickelson decided not to participate in the PGA Championship, presented on the Southern Hills course. He thus passed up the chance to win acclaim for his historic triumph last year when, at the age of 50, he became the oldest golfer to win a Grand Slam tournament.
He is the first PGA Championship winner not to defend his title since Woods was recovering from knee surgery in 2008 and was unable to appear on the Oakland Hills course.
“It’s always disappointing when the defending champion isn’t here,” Woods said. Phil said things that many of us who are involved in the circuit and in the heritage of the circuit have spoken out against, and he took time for himself, and we all understand that. But I think some of his opinions on how the circuit could be run, should be run, created a lot of disagreement.
“He just takes his time, and we wish him all the best. »
Meanwhile, Woods is back and showing more optimism than he did a month ago at the Masters. He said people close to him were thrilled to see him walk the 72 holes at Augusta National.
It was then the first time he had walked while taking part in a competition since the accident on February 23, 2021, in Los Angeles, which shattered bones in his right leg and right ankle.
All he cared about the next day was his poor performance on the greens which led to scores of 78 in the third and fourth rounds.
“I didn’t see things that way on Monday. I was a bit unhappy that I didn’t play well on the greens, felt like I was hitting the ball well enough and wished I had the physical condition. »
Woods admitted the Monday after the Masters was a tough recovery day. Then he returned to work in hopes of gaining strength and stamina.
“It’s better than the last time I played in a tournament, which is good,” he remarked.
Woods is the defending PGA Championship champion at Southern Hills, where he won by two strokes in 2007 for the 13th of 15 Grand Slam triumphs.
His main challenge lies with the golfers he will try to defeat, who represent the toughest contingent at major tournaments. Woods is 46 and Mickelson proved a year ago that age is just a number.
However, Mickelson had taken part in a full schedule. Woods, with his injuries, could be limited to four majors this year, at most.
The Southern Hills course is marked by steep inclines from the first and 10th tees, and challenging climbs at the end of each of the two halves of the course. For the rest, the walk is not too trying.
Woods acknowledges that some days are tough. He points out that it’s never as easy as it might seem.
“But I feel like I’m better. There are more days that are better, more positive. »
