Tiger Woods returns to motion at The Open, with the 15-time main champion arriving at Royal Troon going through query marks about his kind and future on the prime degree.
The previous world No 1 is ready to compete in all 4 majors of the calendar yr for the primary time since 2019, the yr he final gained The Masters, having seen his schedule hampered by damage in current seasons.
Woods has accomplished 72 holes simply 4 occasions since his automotive crash in February 2021 and has struggled within the majors this season, ending final of those that made the weekend at The Masters earlier than lacking successive cuts on the PGA Championship and US Open.
The 48-year-old hasn’t posted a prime 10 end at any occasion because the 2020 Farmers Insurance coverage Open, with former Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie questioning why Woods has not already known as time on his unbelievable profession.
“I hope individuals bear in mind Tiger as Tiger was, the eagerness and the charismatic aura round him,” Montgomerie informed The Instances. “There’s none of that now.
Rick Shiels asks ‘placing guru’ Phil Kenyon for his prime three ideas forward of The Open at Royal Troon
“At Pinehurst, he didn’t appear to get pleasure from a single shot and also you assume ‘what the hell is he doing?’ He is coming to Troon and he will not get pleasure from it there both.”
On requested whether or not he ought to retire, Montgomerie added: “Aren’t we there? I would have thought we had been previous there. There’s a time for all sportsmen to say goodbye, but it surely’s very troublesome to inform Tiger it is time to go.
The Open Dwell
Thursday 18th July 6:30am
“Clearly, he nonetheless feels he can win. We’re extra life like … these guys solely know Tiger Woods lacking the lower and he is higher than that, the most effective we have ever seen.”
What can we anticipate from Woods at Royal Troon?
Woods performed an 18-hole follow spherical on Sunday and returned to the course on Monday morning, partnering Justin Thomas and Max Homa, with the three-time Champion Golfer as a result of have his pre-tournament press convention at 11am on Tuesday.
Tiger Woods arrived at Royal Troon on Sunday
He has informed the media within the build-up to each main this season that he nonetheless feels he has the sport to compete towards the world’s finest, though former Ryder Cup participant Andrew Coltart has questioned whether or not we are going to see him contending once more.
“I’ve not seen any proof recently that means that he can [contend], to be sincere,” Coltart informed Sky Sports activities Information. “I feel we’re nonetheless dwelling in that romantic world the place we expect he is aggressive. It is nice that he thinks that.
“The advantage of this golf course is that it is flat in order that’s not going to impede his physique when it comes to placing an terrible lot of pressure on that.
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“However the different factor although as properly with hyperlinks golf, which you have to consider, is due to all of the little slopes and undulations, that might put slightly little bit of pressure on his lower-right leg. So, it is going to be fascinating to see.
“However goodness me, while you consider that truth, the state of the physique, the age that he’s coming to his late 40s now, and the expertise that is on the market, there’s an terrible lot of issues which might be simply going towards him.”
The Open Verdict
Thursday 18th July 9:00pm
How has Woods carried out within the majors?
Woods has performed The Open at Royal Troon twice in his profession, completed tied-Twenty fourth in 1997 and tied-ninth in 2004 earlier than lacking the 2016 contest by way of damage. He final made the lower at The Open in 2018, the place he briefly led on the ultimate day earlier than ending tied-sixth at Carnoustie.
He made at Twenty fourth consecutive lower at Augusta Nationwide earlier this yr, posting scores of 73 and 72, earlier than carding the worst spherical of his main profession as knowledgeable with a 10-over 82 on Saturday.
Watch the story of Tiger Woods’ worst spherical at a significant event as he shot a ten-over-par 82 at Augusta Nationwide in The Masters
Woods adopted it up with a five-over 77 on the ultimate day, his one centesimal event spherical at The Masters, then carded over-par rounds on each days of early exits on the PGA Championship and US Open. His final main spherical in purple figures was on the 2022 PGA Championship.
The three-time Open champion prefers heat and dry situations to keep away from the climate including one other consider his bodily struggles. An unsettled forecast over the event days in Scotland, consisting of rain and a powerful breeze, won’t be welcome information to Woods.
Who will win The 152nd Open? Watch prolonged protection this week dwell on Sky Sports activities. Dwell protection begins on Thursday from 6.30am on Sky Sports activities Golf. Stream The Open and extra prime sport with NOW.
