SAN FRANCISCO– The process Tiger Woods goes through to play competitive golf is not laid out in detail, however it understandably includes more than a few toe touches and casual swings on the driving range.
Woods is usually awake hours before his tee time, getting in a warm-up exercise and going to with a trainer, generally to have work done on his neck and his back.
Due to the fact that he no longer travels with his own physical training professional, Woods often counts on the trainers supplied by the PGA Tour or, when it comes to this weeks PGA Championship, those on-site at TPC Harding Park.
It is informing that throughout one of the practice-round days before the PGA Championship, Woods felt great enough to forgo that stop along the way to prepping for the tournament, a pleasant surprise for him in his fight with back tightness.
Huge offer? Possibly not. For a man who makes news because he altered putters, Woods making it through a tournament week without any physical problems is something to note.
1 RelatedThat may be the biggest takeaway for Woods after his tie for 37th at the PGA Championship, where he shot a final-round 67, made a few more putts and typically left San Francisco with a brighter outlook than the overcast, misty skies depicted.
” To me, I constantly look at the health,” stated Joe LaCava, Woods caddie. “I believe he feels and looks healthy. Thats big for me. If hes sensation and looking healthy, I know he can play. There were plenty of great quality drives, and [Sunday], we had easier conditions, but he hit a great deal of excellent irons shots, which I always enjoy to see.”.
Woods clearly has work to do. He had a hard time on the greens, had problem getting the ball in the fairway consistently, and wasnt his typical excellent self with his iron play– yet he still ended up under par, turned what need to have been a really bad round on Saturday into a 72, and had the ability to leave Harding Park with plenty to develop on.
However it all goes back to his health. Now a busy stretch awaits, a few of which discusses why he didnt play more to this point. Woods has today off before the FedEx Cup playoffs begin with the Northern Trust at TPC Boston on Aug. 20.
At 47th in the FedEx Cup standings, Woods cant manage to skip that tournament if he has intents of getting to Atlanta for the Tour Championship, where he won in 2018 for his 80th PGA Tour success. Woods has 604 points– with 500 of them originating from his October victory at the Zozo Championship in Japan.
That means the possibility hell play several weeks in a row, something he has not done since the Hero World Challenge and the Presidents Cup in December. And at that Presidents Cup, he had the ability to skip a day because of back stiffness.
” Weve been training for that, “Woods stated.” Trying to get my strength and endurance up, that ability to ensuring that I can handle that kind of workload. We understood once I began playing again when I committed to Memorial that this was going to be a heavy work, and my training sessions weve been pressing it quite hard, ensuring I get my strength and endurance up.
” This will be no different. Well be pushing it difficult to make certain that I can stay strong and have the endurance to keep going.”.
Tom Pennington/Getty Images) Thats all excellent and fine, however there is still the matter of Woods game. Hes played simply two times in the nine weeks of the PGA Tours return from the break enforced because of the coronavirus pandemic. Now he could possibly play 4 times in 5 weeks, including the U.S. Open.
You just keep working at it. To me, its just a lack of playing competition golf, you know what I mean? He doesnt play those occasions, and he wasnt going to add competitions.
Woods is likely to get them, and it will be a balancing act. He wants to make it to the Tour Championship, however he appeared uninformed that there is just one week off between it and the rescheduled U.S. Open. He needs to play, but he doesnt require to play too much.
And he requires to deal with his game in the areas that put one of the most stress on his back– putting, bunker play, wedge shots.
Getting utilized to various putting speeds and surfaces needs comprehensive practice, among the reasons he went to a longer putter. The bunkers triggered difficulty for all at Harding Park, and Woods transforming simply 2 of 11 save opportunities remained in part due to that and putting. And Woods stays average at finest when it pertains to striking wedge shots, with his methods balancing 42 feet for his distance to the hole from 100 to 125 yards.
Woods went to a various model of the Scotty Cameron putter hes utilized for the majority of his profession with combined results; his problems were more about the green speeds and accustoming to them than the putter. And he said working with a longer putter assists him practice longer.
” To me, I constantly look at the health,” stated Joe LaCava, Woods caddie. Woods has this week off prior to the FedEx Cup playoffs begin with the Northern Trust at TPC Boston on Aug. 20.
Woods is likely to get them, and it will be a balancing act. The bunkers caused problem for all at Harding Park, and Woods transforming just 2 of 11 save chances was in part due to that and putting.
” Hopefully there are at least 2 more tournaments to enter into the winners circle,” LaCava stated. “Hes had a win this season [Japan], but he d like to have one in the fiscal year. Hes just played 4 times [in 2020] To me, its not a lot the Tour Championship– that would be a perk at this moment– just offer us 2 more possibilities to win a tournament. Thats what were searching for.”.
Of course, Woods and LaCava are looking beyond the FedEx playoffs. The U.S. Open is next month.
There is lots of golf to be played. Just how much of it– and how reliable he can be– are the huge questions for Woods.
For a man who makes news since he altered putters, Woods making it through a tournament week without any physical issues is something to note.
