Tiger Woods’ cycle, which no one knew the secret, reveals something in him. Even his failure was shocked by the fans, what he said …
Tiger Woods’ cycle, which no one knew the secret, reveals something in him. Even his failure was shocked by the fans, what he said … Read more below
Tiger Woods of the United States watches the first day of the 152nd British Open Championship at Royal Troon in Troon, Scotland, on July 18, 2024.
Tiger Woods in the first round of the 152nd British Open Championship.
TRON, Scotland — Tiger Woods was out cold. At 2:30 on a dreary Thursday afternoon, the golfing legend, approaching 49 with each passing day, walked to the first tee to begin play in his 23rd British Open. He was dressed in black and gray, following Henry Cotton’s playbook, except that Cotton wore a silk tie for much of Open golf and Woods wore a neck gaiter. Cotton has won the Open three times, as has Woods. It was a classic appearance. Black shoes, black rain pants, black hat, gray sweater. I mean corporate behavior. He made par 1, facing the wind. His approach was perfect.
Woods made par on two. His swing, for this 90-point shooter, seemed better than it had in a long time, smoother, with a more natural release of his hands at impact. He looked more like a young Tiger, more like his 15-year-old son Charlie Woods, who next week will play his first USGA tournament, the U.S. Junior Championship, at Oakland Hills. Tiger has won this tournament three times.
Woods had three birdies. His longtime agent, Mark Steinberg, was watching intently, on a flatscreen TV in a corporate tent, out of the wind and the misting rain.
As Woods marched up the fairway on the par-5 4th, the threesome waiting on the adjacent 16th tee — Thirston Lawrence, Dan Bradbury and Elvis Smylie — stopped their waggling to take a look. It was a par 5 that couldn’t be reached in two. The green was slow, the air was heavy, and there were no normal shots. None of the shots looked playable at home, and Woods missed the green for bogey. There was very little conversation among the group.John Wooden, a former caddie and future coach of the U.S. Ryder Cup team, also accompanied the group as a field reporter for NBC Sports. Las Stock, veteran Caddy and NBC veteran. Police and small troops of employees also managed them. Tiger has been playing tournament golf like a caged animal for 25 years, that’s all he knows. Nobody was under any illusions: It’s hard to stay engrossed when you’re holding your phone still on behalf of the videographer. Woods made a double on No. 5, a par on No. 6 and a bogey on No. 7. The eighth is a short par 3 with a small green. “The green’s good, the green’s bad,” Woods said recently about the strategic advantages of this hole. He missed the green for bogey, losing at 40 on the par-9. Tiger Woods of the United States watches the first day of action at the 152nd British Open Championship at Royal Troon in Troon, Scotland, on July 18, 2024.
Tiger Woods in action at Royal Troon on Thursday.
