TROON, Scotland – The primary spherical of Tiger Woods’ seemingly final begin of the season started with inconsistency and ended with a well-recognized thud.
Following a birdie on the third gap to affix a small group of gamers in pink figures at The Open, Woods struggled on a windy and moist day with bogeys at Nos. 4, 7 and eight and a double-bogey 5 on the sixth, for an outward 40. Issues weren’t significantly better on the inward loop and he completed with an 8-over 79 that left him tied for 140th within the 156-player area.
“I didn’t do an entire lot of issues proper right this moment. I made that putt on the third gap, after which I feel I had, what, three three-putts right this moment,” Woods stated. “I didn’t hit my irons very shut, and I didn’t give myself an entire lot of appears right this moment.”
Woods has made only one reduce in his earlier 4 begins this season and has did not put up an under-par spherical as he continues his comeback from a number of surgical procedures. He appeared to recommend that the wrestle now’s taking part in sufficient aggressive golf to be sharp when it issues essentially the most in main championships.
“I believed I may play just a little bit extra earlier within the 12 months. I feel I used to be just a little bit too optimistic. I have to do much more work within the health club and maintain progressing like we’ve got,” he stated, earlier than including, “I’m bodily feeling lots higher than I did originally of the 12 months.”
PGA champion Xander Schauffele (69) performed alongside Woods in Spherical 1 and famous that Woods is “making it as laborious on himself as attainable, and I do know he’s laborious on himself too. It’s simply laborious. I feel he’s simply studying. He’s bought to be taught just a little bit extra about his physique, what he can and might’t do.”
Schauffele was referring to the truth that Woods is taking part in virtually solely in main championships. Woods has performed simply two non-major PGA Tour occasions – the Genesis Invitational, which he hosts – the final three seasons.
“I’m positive he’d wish to prep extra at house if his physique would permit it,” Schauffele stated. “That is all stuff — I’m undecided he tells you guys these things or not. However as a tour professional now, I form of know what goes into it and what must be achieved to play at a excessive stage. In case your physique is just not letting you do it, it’s simply irritating. I’m positive he’s attempting to determine that out.”
