ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — Tiger Woods walked throughout the Swilcan Bridge on the 18th fairway of the Previous Course on Friday, presumably questioning whether or not he had performed the ultimate spherical of his storied profession in The Open at St. Andrews.
Woods, a three-time winner of The Open, together with twice at St. Andrews in 2000 and 2005, will not be round for the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary celebration this weekend. He carded a 3-over 75 within the second spherical and his 36-hole complete of 9-over 153 was properly behind the leaders.
Given the R&As rotation, the Open in all probability will not be again at St. Andrews, the residence of golf, till 2027. Woods might be 51. He acknowledged earlier this week that it might be his ultimate Open on the Previous Course, which is why he wasnt going to overlook it.
I do not know if this might be Tigers final one right here, Scottie Scheffler stated on Friday. He might have spoken about it a bit, however he is a reasonably resilient man and he likes to compete. Well see what he has in retailer for us the following few years. Any time youll be able to see that man out on the golf course, particularly The Previous Course, it is actually particular.
Englands Tyrrell Hatton additionally hoped Woods could be again at St. Andrews enjoying once more.
Whether it is [the end], it could be a reasonably unhappy day, Hatton stated. Will probably be a tragic day for golf when that point comes normally. However like I stated, hopefully not. For us as gamers, to have him round is fairly cool. When he obtained in that automotive wreck, [we] did not know if we would have him again. Simply to have him out right here enjoying golf is fairly particular for all of us.
Golf followers wont see Woods, a 15-time champion, competing once more till late November, when he hosts the Hero World Problem within the Bahamas, which advantages his basis and different charities.
Then once more, after Woods was significantly injured in a automotive accident outdoors Los Angeles in February 2021, golf followers might need puzzled in the event that theyd ever see him on a course once more. Woods stated surgeons practically needed to amputate his proper leg after the wreck. It took him a number of months to regain sufficient energy to stroll once more, not to mention swing a driver and stroll 18 holes.
However Woods unexpectedly returned to competitors on the Masters in April. He shot 1-under 71 within the opening spherical and made the lower, earlier than fading on the weekend in chilly climate. He completed forty seventh, after carding a 6-over 78 in every of the ultimate two rounds, his worst scores at Augusta Nationwide.
In Could, Woods additionally made the lower on the PGA Championship at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He rallied to make the lower with a 1-under 69 within the second spherical, however was pressured to withdraw after 54 holes due to ache in his surgically repaired proper leg. He shot 9-over 79 within the third spherical, his worst rating on the PGA Championship.
Woods gave the impression to be headed towards one other letdown at St. Andrews, however he performed significantly better on Friday. He principally prevented the massive errors and three-putts that plagued him within the opening spherical, during which he shot a dismal 6-over 78.
After his opening drive on Thursday landed in a contemporary divot, his second shot ended up in a burn in entrance of the inexperienced, which led to a double-bogey. On Friday, the primary gap was a routine par for him.
Woods admitted on Thursday that he struggled adjusting to the velocity of the Previous Courses greens, which he stated have been slower than its fairways. His placing was significantly better on Friday. He narrowly missed a 20-footer for birdie on the second gap. On the third, he made a 25-footer for birdie to maneuver to 1-under within the spherical.
Nevertheless, any ideas of Woods going low with the intention to stick round for the weekend rapidly pale. He gave again a shot when he bogeyed the par-4 fourth gap. After hitting his second shot, Woods instantly slammed his iron on the bottom. He had a pleasant putt from off the inexperienced, however then he missed a 3-footer for par.
It would not be the final strategy shot that obtained away from him. On the following gap, the par-5, 555-yard fifth, Woods second shot ended up about six ft from the pin. Sadly for him, it was the pin for the opposite gap on the double inexperienced. Woods ball was 116 ft from the opening he was truly enjoying. He left an eagle putt 10 ft shot after which missed a 3-footer for birdie.
Woods made one other bogey when his tee shot on No. 6 landed in a fairway bunker and he needed to chip out. It was largely uneventful golf for Woods from there, as he made 9 consecutive pars.
