Tiger Woods at Pinehurst No. 2.
Getty Photos
Good day pals and blissful Tuesday from the U.S. Open! I write to you all from a pleasant and funky media middle after a 22,000 step day at Pinehurst No. 2. I took the 6:30 a.m. shuttle from the media lodge to the course this morning, partly so I might stroll the course earlier than it acquired too sizzling, however largely to look at Max Homa and Tiger Woods play the entrance 9 good and early. After grabbing a fast breakfast within the media middle, I headed out to the primary gap the place I used to be blissful to be taught that Min Woo Lee had joined the 7:29 tee time.
Tiger, Max Homa and Min Woo Lee
I’m no instructing professional, so I’m not certified to touch upon how Tiger’s swing appears to be like. However as somebody who has 29 years of strolling expertise, I do really feel like I’m allowed to weigh in on how the 15-time main champion gave the impression to be transferring in the present day, and folk, he regarded nice. He regarded snug getting from shot to shot and I didn’t discover any actual limping.
Tiger and Charlie Woods matched of their mild pink Solar Day Crimson shirts, and I noticed that Charlie Woods is a large exception in relation to the matching-your-parent rule of thumb. For most youngsters, it’s cool to coordinate appears to be like with a father or mother till you’re about 10. After that, you would possibly get humorous appears to be like rolling into Easter mass or a seaside day with a “mother and me” or “dad and me” outfit. That rule merely doesn’t apply when the man you might be matching has 82 PGA Tour wins. It’s a large flex that Charlie Woods can gown like his dad every day, and I hope it continues for a very very long time.
This crew solely performed 9 holes in the present day, and my largest takeaway wasn’t a particular dialog I heard or swing I noticed, however slightly a brand new friendship that I’m very enthusiastic about.
Charlie Woods stayed by Tiger’s facet for the fist few holes, however quickly he was strolling and speaking with Min Woo Lee. Lee is the Gen Z hero that a number of youngsters love, so I’m unsure why I used to be stunned when he and Charlie Woods began hitting it off. Perhaps as a result of Lee is so completely different from Tiger. He leans into his stardom and is extraordinarily lively on social media whereas Tiger’s all the time been personal. Both approach, Min Woo Lee is the cool man on the scene this week — youngsters had been screaming “let him cook dinner!” as he walked by the follow space earlier, and Charlie was beaming when Lee handed him his putter to take a look at.
Charlie Woods the coach?
I all the time love watching Tiger in “dad mode.” I’ve gone to the PNC Championship and watched the Woods boys tee it up collectively for the final two years, and it was enjoyable to look at them bond once more at Pinehurst in the present day. However I additionally couldn’t assist however surprise precisely what tasks Charlie has this week, apart from being an excellent cling. I requested Tiger about his son’s duties as a member of the “participant help” crew this week and was fairly blown away by his reply.
“I belief him with my swing and my sport. He’s seen it greater than anyone else on this planet. He’s seen me hit extra golf balls than anybody. I inform him what to search for, particularly with placing. He gave me a pair little facet bits in the present day, which was nice, as a result of I get so entrenched in hitting sure putts to sure pins, I are likely to overlook among the issues I’m engaged on. I simply wish to see the balls rolling. He jogs my memory each once in a while, which is nice. Now we have an excellent relationship and rapport like that, and it’s a beautiful expertise for each of us.“
Transfer over, Butch Harmon and Sean Foley. There’s a brand new world-famous swing coach on the town, and he’s a freshman in highschool. As a lot enjoyable because the Woods guys are having this week, they’ve enterprise to take care of. Charlie’s not right here to hang around. He’s serving as a second set of eyes for the 15-time main champion this week, which is kind of a resume builder for the 15-year-old! He’s acquired the entire golf world in his palms.
I additionally wish to take a second to provide a shout out to probably the most “dad of a youngster” reply I’ve ever seen from Tiger Woods, the place he admits he’s not fairly certain “regardless of the hell” TikTok is.
The scariest stroll at Pinehurst
Intimidating greens this, intimidating greens that. You understand what’s truly the scariest a part of Pinehurst No. 2 this week? The road of dozens of youngsters screaming gamers’ names, begging them for autographs and photographs whereas they stroll by the follow space. I really feel like I’m again in a center college hallway being checked out whereas I cross via the autograph part, and I’m not even the one they wish to speak to! However the requests transcend the gamers. I heard some youngsters yelling for a safety guard’s signature in addition to autographs from caddies and brokers. Principally, in case you stroll by this space, there will probably be a chant directed at you. The MVP of the autograph zone in the present day was positively Bryson DeChambeau, the place youngsters had been ecstatic to fulfill Bryson the golfer in addition to Bryson the YouTuber.
Perhaps these youngsters could have the autograph of a two-time U.S. Open champion come Sunday afternoon.
