PINEHURST, N.C. – Tiger Woods’ battle together with his physique is making the combat towards Pinehurst that rather more troublesome.
Woods is enjoying simply his ninth aggressive spherical this yr, and he acknowledged that he was nowhere close to sharp sufficient Thursday for what is probably going probably the most demanding take a look at of the yr.
Woods missed simply two fairways – “I drove the ball on a string” – however couldn’t hit his targets into the famed Donald Ross greens that require such precision. He hit simply 9 greens in regulation and was close to the underside of the sphere in strokes gained: method when he completed his spherical of 4-over 74 on the U.S. Open.
“I didn’t hit the ball very effectively,” Wooden mentioned. “It added as much as fairly a little bit of distance away from the flag. It’s not the place I needed to be on numerous the holes. It simply ended up being that distant as a result of I wasn’t as sharp as I wanted to be.”
That’s been a well-recognized theme for Woods, who made the lower on the Masters however tumbled down the leaderboard after a third-round 82 that left him final amongst those that performed all 4 rounds. He didn’t even see the weekend on the PGA Championship, the place his rounds of 72-77 left him in a tie for 133rd.
It has led to the query: If he continues to comment about his rustiness, why doesn’t Woods simply play extra?
Woods mentioned he’s bettering bodily because the yr has gone on. “I simply haven’t been in a position to play as a lot as a result of I simply don’t need to damage myself pre(-tournament); then I received’t have the ability to play within the main championships,” he mentioned.
“So, it’s decide your poison, proper? Play loads with the potential of not enjoying. Or not enjoying and combat being not as sharp.”
In his restricted motion this yr, Woods has hit simply 50% of his greens (which has lengthy been the hallmark of his sport) whereas scrambling at only a 50% fee. He typically can’t push too onerous the week of the event, both, lest he put on himself out earlier than the primary tee shot is even struck. After a scouting journey to Pinehurst final week, he performed 9 holes every on Monday and Tuesday earlier than opting simply to follow on Wednesday.
After an untidy opening spherical that can go away him scrambling to make the lower once more, Woods mentioned he hoped to have the ability to follow after lunch – except his again tightens up within the air-conditioned shuttle trip again to the clubhouse.
“This can be a golf course that doesn’t quit a complete lot of birdies; it offers up numerous bogeys and better,” he mentioned. “I assumed I did the one factor I wanted to do in the present day, which is drive the ball effectively. I did that that – I simply didn’t capitalize on any of it.”
