This is the online version of our daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Subscribe to get irreverent and incisive sports stories, delivered to your mailbox every morning.
The 150th Open Championship is finally under way at St. Andrews and a bunch of big names are already going low at the home of golf.
The biggest name of them all, however, tees off just before 10 a.m. ET. I’m talking about the needle. I’m talking about the guy with 15 majors. I’m talking about the GOAT:
Tiger freaking Woods.
This whole week at the Old Course has been a celebration of the great game of golf. The 150th playing of this championship is a special one. Players and fans have been giddy each day just taking in the scenes at such a legendary place.
How big is this week? Tiger said this on Tuesday:
“It’s the most historic one we’ve ever had. I just didn’t want to miss this Open here at the home of golf.”
So yeah, if Tiger Woods is raising the Claret Jug into the air on Sunday then this will be the greatest week in golf history. Imagine the crowd surrounding that tremendous final hole at St. Andrews. Imagine the partying that would be taking place in all those pubs in that beautiful little town. Imagine the tears that would be falling from Tiger’s eyes.
It would be an absolutely incredible moment that sports fans would never come close to forgetting.
Could it actually happen, though? Could the man who was almost killed in a car accident last year find his championship form for one more four-day stretch? Can the dude with the obvious limp from the devastating leg injuries suffered in that crash fight through the pain one more time and stun us all with another major championship victory?
The betting odds say he won’t be able to do that. Forget about his banged-up body and untested game for a minute – there are too many great golfers playing really good golf right now.
There are also lots of doubts about Tiger and his game. We’ve only seen him play twice this year and while he made the cut at both majors he’s played in, he hasn’t been a factor over the weekend.
St. Andrews, however, seems to be a perfect spot for the GOAT to make some magic. It’s an easier walk than Augusta and Southern Hills. He’s won here twice before in 2000 and 2005. He can plot his way around this links course and show of his brilliance with his legendary short game.
Tiger Woods winning the 150th Open Championship isn’t a crazy thing to think about.
Whatever happens, it’s just going to be a lot of fun watching Tiger at St. Andrews. Nothing is promised. These moments just don’t come along very often. We should all just enjoy these days when we get them.
But if Tiger somehow wins… my goodness. It would just be the best.
Ever.
Quick hits: NHL free agency winners and losers… Braves pitcher’s hilarious reaction to balk… Jordan Spieth crushes ice cream… And more.
– NHL free agency kicked off yesterday and a ton of moves were made. Mary Clarke has the winners and losers from Day 1.
– Braves pitcher Jesse Chavez had a hilarious reaction after committing an obvious balk.
– Jordan Spieth crushed an ice cream bar while playing a practice round at St. Andrews and golf fans loved it.
– Here’s how much money the winners and others will get at The Open.
