TROON, Scotland — Tiger Woods returned to Royal Troon for the first time since 2004 on Sunday. He was hurt in 2016 and while as a past champion he likely would still be eligible, it seems unlikely that in another 8-12 years when the championship returns to the Western coast of Ayrshire in the home of golf, Woods will still be competing. With that in mind, both fans and employees darted out of The Shop, saving the purchase of over-priced caps and hoodies for later to witness Woods play the 16th hole at the site of the 152nd Championship.
Woods played all 18 holes and treated a few hundred fans who traipsed after him to some impressive shots, including at the Postage Stamp, where he stuck his tee shot twice. Woods, a three-time winner of the Claret Jug, finished T-24 here in 1997 and T-9 in 2004. He hasn’t been called Champion Golfer of the Year since 2006.
Woods was chomping on gum as he played solo, and it clearly was intentional as Jason Day and Tony Finau played in a group in front of him. Tiger took his time and did his homework. There was lots of short-game shots, an iron game that looked sharp and he tended to hit just one tee shot if he liked it. He did choose to smack three drives on 16, including switching to what looked to be a 3-wood for the last of the trio. Funny to see Tiger kick his ball out of the rough to play his second shot there. (One of us!)
Woods followed one of his traditional practice regimens, having caddie Lance Bennett stick tees at potential hole placements and practice from 25-30 feet and rarely putting to the actual hole — though he didn’t hesitate to drain a walk-off birdie at 18 and then toss a pair of golf balls to kids lining the 18th green.
Tiger is scheduled to speak on Tuesday and after finishing last among those to make the cut at the Masters, and missing the cut at both the PGA Championship and U.S. Open, this week presents his last chance to chase a 16th major championship and what he’s already said will all but surely be his final start this season.
