Will it be goodbye? Tiger Woods is ready to participate in the 150th British Open. Photo REUTERS / Paul Childs
Whether it’s Friday or Sunday, Tiger Woods will cross the Swilcan Bridge for the last time at the British Open in St. Andrews. What he doesn’t know for sure is if he will say goodbye just for this year or if his goodbye will be final.
“Who knows?”Woods said Tuesday, reluctant to contemplate an uncertain future in golf.
The Open would not return to the mythical Old Course for at least four years, maybe a little longer. Woods is 46 and carries what he described as “a lot of bodywork” on the right legrepaired after the road accident suffered in February 2021.
“I don’t know, if it turns out it will take so long, if I have the physical capacity to compete at this level by thenWoods stressed: “It was one of the reasons I wanted to play in this league. I don’t know what my career will be. I will no longer play a full calendar. My body doesn’t allow it,” added the golfer who was the best in the world. .
“I don’t know how many Open I have in front of me in St. Andrews, but I didn’t want to miss this“- he added-. “For me it all started here in 1995 and if it ends here in 2022, so be it. And if it can’t be, then there is no remedy. If I could play another one, that would be great. But there is no guarantee
he did not improvise
Tiger Woods practiced at the legendary The Old Course in St Andrews in Scotland. Photo Andy Buchanan / AFP
In the other two majors he played this year, the Masters and the PGA Championship, Woods only played 27 practice holes before the first round..
He played at the Ballybunion course in Ireland last week with Rory McIlroy. On Saturday night in St. Andrews he played 18 holes with a wedge and putter. He played 18 holes on Sunday and nine in each of the last two days. Added to this is a four-hole exhibition, which all in all surpasses the two previous majors.
Woods wasn’t kidding when he said he wasn’t going to miss this Open in St. Andrews, the 150th edition of the oldest golf championship in the world. Here he won two of his three Open, on the Old Course.
“Yesterday, on those four holes, he was moving better than he had in a long time,” said McIlroy, who attended the legends exhibit on Monday. “It was very nice to see him. And his swing … hitting the ball and swinging is no problem. The struggle is having to walk. But it seems to be moving very well“.
It will be a week full of tradition. And there’s no place with as much history as R&A, with the “150” logo emblazoned everywhere, including the blue seats in the stands.
This is the Old Course, the main attraction
Woods has been training and those who have seen him have pointed out that the hardest thing for him is walking due to the accident he had last year. Photo REUTERS / Andrew Boyers
“This is a very different tournament from the others, the St Andrews Open,” said Jordan Spieth. “It hasn’t disappointed this week’s course. It’s a very solid course. The greens are flawlessand the view when you enter – the last holes – looks more spectacular than seven years ago. “
As for Woods, it all depends on walking without discomfort. To feel fit. He says his leg is stronger than when he was able to complete all four rounds in Augusta National, where he limped severely. It remains to remember that Thursday afternoon will only be his eighth competitive round of the year.
But he’s in a good mood. It’s on the Old Course. Whether or not he manages to play at a superlative level doesn’t keep him awake at night. “This whole year has made me feel very proud to have managed to reach this point with my teamto be able to play tournaments when it seemed like I would never have this opportunity again, “he said.
Source: by Doug Ferguson, AP
Source: Clarin
