Would possibly we be witnessing the top for Tiger Woods at St. Andrews this week, as he performs within the a hundred and fiftieth British Open on the fabled Previous Course?
What's going to we (and Woods) be feeling when he walks over the Swilcan Bridge after teeing off on the 18th for the ultimate time of the week — whether or not that be Sunday or (heaven forbid) Friday?
Will Woods — at age 46 and with a physique that has been damaged down from surgical procedures numbering in double digits, and 17 months faraway from that horrific automotive crash that almost price him his proper leg — be overcome with emotion realizing it could be his ultimate time making that stroll as a respectable competitor for the Claret Jug?
Woods has accomplished lots of issues in his good, record-shattering profession: He has received 82 tournaments, together with 15 main championships, and he has dramatically modified the aggressive and monetary panorama of the sport.
However one factor Woods hasn’t accomplished is present lots of emotion publicly. Woods not often permits the general public a peek into his soul. Maybe the one true exception to that was 2006, when he received his third British Open at Hoylake simply months after his father, Earl, died, and he collapsed into the arms of his then-caddie Steve Williams in tears.
Woods, although, is an astute historian of the sport. Legacy issues to him. He calls St. Andrews, the place he received the 2000 and 2005 British Opens, his favourite course on the earth. His victory in 2005 on the Previous Course got here two days after Jack Nicklaus made his ultimate stroll over the Swilcan Bridge as a competitor.
These items will not be misplaced on Woods.
Nicklaus, carrying a crimson sweater vest over a white shirt with darkish pants and white golf sneakers, stopping to pose on the bridge and wave his proper arm to the adoring spectators and a phalanx of photographers to acknowledge the second is likely one of the most iconic photographs within the sport.
Will Woods pause when he walks over the bridge for the ultimate time of the week?
Solely he is aware of.
One factor that's sure is that there will probably be not less than as many photographers when that occurs as there have been in 2005 for Nicklaus.
Make no mistake: Woods cherishes each certainly one of his 15 majors, three wanting Nicklaus’ document 18, however he cherishes his British Opens received at St. Andrews essentially the most.
“As Jack says, your profession is just not full until you’ve received an Open Championship on the Residence of Golf, and I really feel like he’s right in that regard,’’ Woods stated. “It is a fairly historic Open we're going to be enjoying. I’m fortunate sufficient to be a part of the previous champions who've received there and need to play there once more.
“I don’t know when they're ever going to return whereas I’m nonetheless in a position to play at a excessive degree, and I would like to have the ability to give it not less than yet one more run at a excessive degree.”
That final phrase was a telling one:
Another run at a excessive degree.
Having watched Woods play the Masters in April and the PGA Championship in Could, so clearly compromised bodily from accidents ensuing from the February 2021 automotive crash, the argument could also be made that he has but to point out true indicators of enjoying at a “excessive degree’’ — if “excessive degree’’ is measured as a degree ok to win.
Woods — who final performed in that PGA Championship at Southern Hills, however was compelled to withdraw after the third spherical as a result of his physique might deal with no extra — speaks like an incredible athlete who is aware of his finish is close to.
And that’s a bit sobering for these of us who’ve adopted and chronicled his total profession, as a result of it was simple to get so misplaced within the superb issues he was undertaking that it felt as if they'd go on endlessly.
“I do suppose he realizes that the top is imminent and rather a lot nearer than he wish to admit, simply reflecting on his efficiency over the past couple of majors,’’ stated shut buddy Notah Begay, now an NBC on-course reporter.
“It could be simple to begin taking a look at Tiger misty-eyed and questioning in case you are ever going to get to see this once more,’’ NBC broadcaster Paul Azinger stated. “Traditionally, that is the place the greats have taken their ultimate stroll. [But] typically, the greats haven’t been injured like this and had their leg look crooked.
“I’m undecided how sentimental it’s going to really feel to look at Tiger play this go-round. I believe personally that he has extra in him. I don’t need to say it is a swan music simply but.’’
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