Thats just the short list of players who figure to excel ahead of Woods. Those factors figure to be significant obstacles for Woods to overcome to record his 16th career significant champion this week.
Add into that formula the weather condition this week in San Francisco is expected to be cool (60s) and damp (fog, mist marine layer), especially in the early mornings. And Woods 44-year-old surgically-repaired body chooses the searing heat and suffocating humidity he plays in the house in South Florida.
Contribute to that the truth that there are a lots more youthful, better-fit star gamers who are entering this week in leading form, beginning with newly-minted No. 1-ranked Thomas, Brooks Koepka, who appears to have actually found his type in the nick of time to opt for a three-peat at the PGA this week, McIlroy, who many believe to be the very best all-around gamer in the world, Jon Rahm, who just won Memorial and was No. 1 before Thomas wrested it away with his win Sunday in Memphis.
This was Woods assessment of himself on Tuesday: “I feel good,” he stated.( Im) simply attempting to get my way back into this part of the season.
That Woods and this Woods are different beings. That Woods was the very best player on the planet back then. This Woods plays and has a balky back tournament golf about as frequently as the Augusta National members allow unaccompanied guests to play.
And easily, Woods question-and-answer session was over prior to anyone could ask this follow-up question: “What makes you think that?”.
Because there are a great deal of elements conspiring to make this a potentially-difficult week for Woods to succeed– whether success is determined by winning the competition, competing or simply making it.
Lets begin with the truth that by the time he tees off his opening round along with Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas on Thursday, Woods will have played four competition rounds of golf in the previous 170 days. Hes played in just 3 tournaments in 2020.
SAN FRANCISCO– The last question presented to Tiger Woods in his pre-tournament interview Tuesday at Harding Park in advance of this weeks PGA Championship came from a press reporter who asked him, “Can you win today?”.” Of course,” Woods stated with a broad smile.
Tiger Woods playing a practice round today for the PGA ChampionshipGetty ImagesSure, Woods has an effective history at Harding Park, where he won the WGC-American Express in 2005, beating John Daly in a playoff, and going unbeaten in the 2009 Presidents Cup.
” This is going to be a fun test for all of us. The rough is up. Fairways are a lot more narrow than they were here in 2009.”.
What about the physical obstacles with the forecasted cool weather condition?
Ive understood that from all the times and years Ive had to qualify up in this area (while playing college golf at nearby Stanford). I believe the weather forecast is expected to be like this all week: Marine layer, cool, windy, and we are all going to have to deal with it.”.
” For me when its cooler like this, its simply ensuring that my core stays warm, layering up appropriately, “Woods said.” I understand I will not have the exact same series of motion as I would back home in Florida where its 95 every day. Thats just the way it is.
Asked what he left his 4 rounds at the Memorial a few weeks back, his only tournament golf since he ended up last at the Genesis Open at Riviera in February, Woods stated, “More than anything, I had not had the competitive circulation. Ive been competing in the house … however thats so different than it is out here playing competitively in a tournament environment.
” Being client is one of the things that I was real proud of out there, combating hard as I did to make it. I birdied two of the last 3 holes and made a substantial par putt on 9 (his last hole in Fridays second round). Those are all positive things I look back on.”.
Woods stated he felt “very enthusiastic about some changes Ive made” while practicing at house while, of course, declining to disclose them.
But will they be enough to carry him into the winners circle today?
That Woods and this Woods are various beings. That Woods was the finest player in the world back then. This Woods has a balky back and plays tournament golf about as frequently as the Augusta National members allow unaccompanied guests to play.
This was Woods assessment of himself on Tuesday: “I feel excellent,” he stated.” For me when its cooler like this, its just making sure that my core stays warm, layering up appropriately, “Woods stated.
