Tiger Woods delighted to return to British Open at Previous Class, most likely for remaining time

Gusting winds rippled the roof of the supermarket-sized media tent Tuesday, generating an intermittent thunder impact as Tiger Woods reviewed his sixth — and perhaps most sizeable — Open up Championship on these hallowed grounds.

He is familiar with just how challenging this system can be when the weather conditions turns.

“You get winds like we did right now, it is a helluva examination,” explained Woods, who gained two of his three Claret jugs right here, in 2000 and 2005. “On 10, I hit a 6 iron from 120 yards it was blowing so challenging. You really don't have options to hit pictures like that everywhere else. Then once again, if you get a relaxed working day on this golf course, you can see gamers most likely have 4 to 5 eagle putts.”

Woods, 46, has survived additional than his share of individual storms, the most recent remaining the rollover incident in 2021 on a steep stretch of Hawthorne Boulevard on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

Initial, he regained his ability to wander. Then, astoundingly, to compete. He has played in two tournaments this year, ending 47th at the Masters and withdrawing following the 3rd spherical of the PGA Championship at Southern Hills, struggling with foot and leg discomfort.

Now, he has returned to his favorite course and feels as properly as he has, post-accident, acknowledging: “My overall body undoubtedly can get improved, but realistically, not a entire good deal.”

“For the most aspect of my rehab, I was just hoping I could stroll all over again, you know, wander standard and have a standard life and perhaps enjoy a minor strike-and-giggle golfing with my son or my mates at home,” he mentioned.

“But lo and behold, I’ve performed championship golfing this calendar year. And once I realized that I could maybe engage in at a higher stage, my aim was to get back right here at St. Andrews to play in this championship, [it] staying the most historic a person we have experienced. I just didn’t want to miss out on this Open up below at the house of golfing.”

Woods claimed the Outdated Training course is noticeably distinctive than when he played listed here for the first time, as an novice.

“They’ve lengthened a couple holes since I very first performed in this article in ’95,” he stated, noting the improvements to No. 8, the only par-3 on the outward 9, a hole that’s actively playing 13 yards lengthier than when the Open was right here in 2015.

“I feel each and every pot bunker has gotten a minor little bit deeper. It is sort of humorous when I appear back at some of the historic movies of the fellas actively playing out of the Highway Hole bunker, and it seriously was not that deep. Now you just cannot see the grandstands when you get in there. All you see is distinct blue sky.”

Blue skies could be in quick source this 7 days, with sporadic rains a unique probability in excess of the following couple of times. The forecast calls for drier, warmer weather conditions commencing Saturday, but foul weather can roll by means of at any issue.

“I bear in mind coming all over below my pretty initially practice round,” he stated. “I could not believe how stupidly tricky this spot is, since I played each and every hole into the wind. ‘Where do you generate these par 4s? This is not what men and women say it is.’ All of a unexpected it adjustments and I see, no, these bunkers are in perform.

“It’s wonderful ingenuity that they had then, that this golfing program stood the exam of time to the finest players. And as lengthy as we have gotten collectively as a subject, this golfing system is even now a challenge.”

Woods has a photo in his business from that very first practice spherical, a person of him crossing the iconic Swilcan Bridge on the 18th fairway. Just about absolutely everyone who plays St. Andrews gets a shot like that, and that stone crossing of the Swilcan Melt away is exactly where the famous Jack Nicklaus gave his farewell to specialist golf in 2005.

“I signify, the historical past and the people today that have walked over that bridge,” Woods mentioned. “I inform you what, honestly, now I have to be a little more thorough with spikes on that bridge. I don’t have fairly the agility that I utilised to. I almost ate it now.”

Clockwise, from top rated still left: Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Georgia Corridor and Rory McIlroy on Swilken Bridge on July 11 on the Previous Class at St. Andrews, Scotland.

(Peter Morrison / Connected Push)

On Monday, Woods played a 4-hole exhibition with Nicklaus, Lee Trevino and Rory McIlroy, and the foursome posed for pictures on the bridge.

“To have Lee, Rory and Jack, and just stand there with them, that’s historical past ideal there,” he claimed. “Those fellas are ... . I viewed them participate in this Open up Championship, waking up, the telecast would come on at 5 a.m. on the West Coast. To get a possibility to watch them participate in and to see them hit the photographs ... .”

Usually, the Open up is played at St. Andrews every 5 many years. Not a surprise, but Woods stated this could be his last on the Outdated Course.

“I’m not going to engage in a comprehensive plan at any time again,” he claimed. “My body just will not allow me to do that. I never know how numerous Open Championships I have left right here at St. Andrews, but I wanted this just one.”