Tiger Woods continued his preparations for The Open Championship at Royal Troon on Monday after hinting this could be the last time he competes for the Claret Jug.
After playing 18 holes on Sunday, Woods got another look Troon's back nine alongside good friends Justin Thomas and Max Homa. And the trio were in high spirits in the Scottish morning sunshine, cracking jokes as they familiarised themselves with the conditions.
It was a stark contrast from a month ago at Pinehurst No. 2 when the US Open test proved too much for the 48-year-old, missing the cut at seven-over-par. That day, a disconsolate Woods hinted not only that he may have played his final US Open, but this week's Open Championship could be his last.
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“As far as my last Open Championship or US Open Championship, I don’t know what that is. It may or may not be," he said in a revealing omission that the end is near for arguably the game's greatest player. The 15-time major champion has been caught in a vicious cycle of rustiness caused by a lack of competitive reps due to his injuries in recent years, and he has played just four tournaments this season.
He has since been urged by former foe Colin Montgomerie to be "realistic" and retire. Montgomerie told The Times last week: “I hope people remember Tiger as Tiger was, the passion and the charismatic aura around him. There is none of that now. At Pinehurst, he did not seem to enjoy a single shot and you think ‘What the hell is he doing?’ He’s coming to Troon and he won’t enjoy it there either.”
Woods' compromised mobility in the wake of his 2021 car accident and resulting surgeries was evident throughout the morning on Scotland's west coast, moving with a slightly awkward gait and looking stiff as he bent over to tie his shoelace. He also appeared to be consciously avoiding the bunkers when it came to getting in practice shots.
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After playing their approaches at each hole, the trio would arrive at the green and drop balls in various areas to prepare for the many different short-game challenges they could face when the tournament begins on Thursday. But when it came to the bunkers, Homa and Thomas would lob a couple of balls into the sand yet Woods would steer clear, perhaps to avoid unnecessary strain on his body given the depth of some of the traps littered across this gorgeous links layout.
The 15-time major champion has faded dramatically as a force, but he still carries the ability to move the needle – or the crowd – like few other sports stars. He was playing alongside two of the PGA Tour's biggest stars, but the healthy crowd that followed was here to see Woods. When he hit his shots, the galleries moved forward to see the next, even if Homa and Thomas were yet to play.
That crowd was treated to a few moments of Tiger magic. A beautifully judged splash shot on the 14th after finding the sand with his approach showed he still possesses immense skill. Yet there were disappointments, with some spectators in the gallery grumbling that Woods had not stopped to sign autographs – which, in fairness, is not unusual for players in the middle of a round.
Later on, a course volunteer had a selfie request rejected, not by Woods, but by a security guard who shadowed him throughout the day. "Absolutely not," he bellowed at the man after he quietly asked for a picture.
There are few parallels between golf and boxing , but in Woods' case there is at least one. They say the last attribute a boxer loses is power and despite the immense wear and tear he has accumulated on and off the course over the years, Woods still hits the ball a very long way.
His impressive speed off the tee was shown best on the par-four 12th, pummelling his drive 30 yards further down the fairway than Thomas and Homa. A precise approach followed to 12 feet but Woods raced the birdie putt past the cup – a theme of the day as he struggled to judge the speeds of the greens.
Woods, in general, was much less forensic around the greens than his playing partners. He hit plenty of putts and chips after finishing the hole with his original ball, but Thomas and Homa would painstakingly line up numerous efforts to every possible pin position.
It seemed his patience had worn thin by the time he finished the 15th hole, with Woods standing alone with his caddie on the 16th tee while Homa and Thomas continued working away around the 15th green. But the good vibes flowed inside and outside the ropes, as all three were given a warm reception as they arrived at the 17th tee.
Three holes earlier, Homa and Thomas could be overheard talking about "odds", suggesting a game of skins or some prop bets were in the offing. And at the 18th green, Homa's caddie was flipping a tee – something usually done to decide who goes first in a contest.
Woods' day on the course concluded at 18, rolling back the years with a tremendous approach after a good drive, leaving around 20 feet for a birdie. He was welcomed warmly by the smattering of fans in the grandstands that flank the green in front of the clubhouse. Again, his pace on the greens was awry, leaving his effort short.
There were glimpses of Woods' greatness sprinkled across the nine holes, but what was more apparent were the physical challenges and the inescapable reality of sport. All good things come to an end, and if this is not Woods' final Open, the next one probably will be.
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