Tiger Woods He made his reappearance in a tournament last Masters (although before he was in the PNC with his son) after the car accident that almost cost him his life. By then, he already knew that the goal of the season was the 150th edition of the British Open Open. The mere possibility of become the only player in golf history to win the Open at St. Andrews three times I had him extra motivated. “It’s my favorite field”, has confirmed today. He has even had to reiterate it in the press room in case someone does not believe it.
To get here, the Tiger did not want to play the Scottish Open and preferred to focus on a less competitive, but demanding, preparation for different courses. Those, after his practice round today he will have done 36 holes on the Old Course plus a good chip and putt session. Empeo is putting him, but on Wednesday he has taken it “free”.
Lee Trevino He played with Woods on Monday in the champions match and saw the winner of 15 majors better than expected, although he made some confession to him: “I could see that he hits it so far, so high and hits it just as well as before.” But he told me: ‘My problem is that I can’t walk and I’m not going to play a tournament with a buggy.’ Perhaps the good eyes of the legendary Texan player saw the Tiger as he did years ago.
Today, Woods walked through a room packed with reporters. The Californian threw back memories: “It means a lot to me to be here. The Old Course is where it all started for me as an amateur. My first opportunity to play the Open was precisely here. I will never forget that in my match I was with Ernie Els and Peter Jacobsen the first two days.”rememor.
The champion of three British Opens, also stood out on the course: “Many legendary players taught me in the practice rounds how to approach this course. It was revealing how many ways you can play, with the ease that certain circumstances give and also with the difficulty that the change of wind or tide can bring”.
Tiger stated that he hasn’t felt a noticeable improvement in the last few weeks, but he threw in the story when referring to his chances: “Well, my body can certainly get better, but realistically not much. He’s been through too much and at 46 you don’t heal as well as at 26. But on golf courses like this you can play until you’re 50; Tom [Watson] He was one putt away from winning on his way to 60. It just takes a lot of knowledge.”.
Last time in St. Andrews?
The possibility hung in the air that it might be the last time Woods plays at St. Andrews as a professional. he l he could neither confirm nor deny it: “Play in the next edition that is here? I don’t know if by then I will be able to compete physically at the level that is necessary. It is also one of the reasons why I wanted to be this year, because I don’t know how to evolve my career”.
The struggle with the LIV
Regarding the players who chose to play for LIV, he stated: “I think what they have done is turn their back on what has allowed them to get to this position that they have.” And he wondered: “What are these players doing for money already guaranteed? What’s the incentive to train? What’s the incentive to go out there and win? They just pay you a lot of money up front and you play some 54-hole tournaments with a different atmosphere than we’re used to.”
