Author: Tobias Hennig

Categories
PGA Tour

PGA Tour: Cameron Smith wins Player Championship 2022

Cameron Smith wins the Players Championship 2022. (Foto: Getty)
Cameron Smith wins the Players Championship 2022. (Foto: Getty)

Cameron Smith wins the Players Championship, the most important tournament on the PGA Tour. The Australian won by one stroke ahead of Anirban Lahiri in second place and Paul Casey in third. For his victory at the TPC Sawgrass, Smith collects 3.6 million dollars, one of the highest prize money ever in golf for a tournament victory. On the final day, the 28-year-old carded a round of 66 on the par-72 course to record an overall score of -13 for the tournament.

Full Leaderboard Players Championship 2022

After five birdies on the first six holes, it initially looked as if Smith could pull away early. But after three bogeys in a row at the end of the front nine, the Australian came under pressure again. Right at the start of the second nine, he then set off on another series of birdies. Smith only recorded one par until the 14th hole. So he went into the last hole with a seemingly safe three-stroke lead. A missed fairway and a free shot from the pine needles into the water changed the situation dramatically on the last hole.

Lahiri was suddenly back within striking distance and, after Smith’s bogey on the 18th, had a chance to go into the play-off with a birdie. But the Indian left his approach too short and missed the chip-in. For sole second place, he receives prize money of more than two million dollars.

Dustin Johnson ties course record

Dustin Johnson showed the best round of the day, tieing the course record with a 63 (-9). The 37-year-old finished the Players Championship with an eagle hole out on the 18th. “DJ” played the back nine with only 29 strokes.

After several weather disputes, the Players Championship could only be finished on Monday. The first round alone lasted three days due to rain and thunderstorm interruptions. On the last day of the tournament, the professionals not only completed the final round, but also had to play the rest of the third round in the morning. The last time the Players Championship was finished on a Monday was in 2005.

Categories
Europe

Madeira: Palheiro Golf Club – The funky course

Palheiro Golf Club on Madeira offers some stunning views across the ocean and the island. (Photo: Golf Post)

The first time you are amazed is before you have even really arrived at the Palheiro Golf Club. From a height of 500 metres, you look down steep cliffs in front of the clubhouse to Funchal, the capital of the Madeira archipelago. Behind the clubhouse, you are immediately amazed again, because the course goes steep uphill to the first green. There are a few surprises in the course of the round. The 18-hole course cannot be pigeonholed.

There are too many very different holes for that. The fairways are mostly relatively wide, but on some of them the landing zones from the tee are still very small due to the slopes. On others, you can only guess where to hit without knowing the course. Wooden stakes do help with orientation, but if you keep your ball within sight with an iron off the tee, you are certainly not at a disadvantage compared to driving into the unknown. At least not on the first round at Palheiro Golf Club.

Many different challenges

With improved course knowledge, you can approach the par-72 course quite differently. The first time, however, you need to make smart decisions. The length of the course is not a difficulty for any skill level. But those who miss fairways or greens will run into problems. This is not least due to the nature of the terrain. Cliffs, steep slopes and deep valleys are just waiting for a ball to miss the target – even if it is only half a metre.

However, the Cabell B. Robinson design is never unfair. Rather, the challenge is to adapt to the ever-changing challenges. On one of the high plateaus it can be very windy, on the next hole you need a good feeling for the length of your shots for the height difference between tee and green. In some other places, strategically placed trees form the biggest obstacle. Some greens are surrounded by bunkers. You never know exactly what’s coming next. But even on the greens you are not safe. Partially heavily ondulated and difficult to read, the putting surface sells for as much as the rest of the course.

At the moment, one still looks in vain for a driving range at the Palheiro Golf Club. While a short game training facility and practice greens are already in place, the range is still under construction. In general, a lot is happening at the club in the south of Madeira. All greens were renovated during the Corona pandemic. The first roughs have already been changed to a more water-efficient type of grass. More are to follow to make the entire club even more sustainable. However, irrigation is already done exclusively with rainwater.

Palheiro Golf Club (Photo: Azalea Group)

Unconventional and a dream for the eye

Unconventional is probably the simplest description of the Palheiro Golf Club. In positive terms, you could call it varied. Those who don’t enjoy it would probably criticise the lack of a clear line in the layout. However, no one will complain about the wide views over the sea that open up again and again. The fantastic view down to Funchal is also offered in several places on the course. Thanks to the subtropical vegetation, for which Madeira is famous, you get a real holiday feeling. But since everything here has its contrast, you also play your way past the island’s prison in the course of the round.

The topography of the course almost “screams” for a cart, but the terrain can also be mastered with a trolley. Only those who are absolutely physically fit should carry their bag. If you opt for a buggy (45 euros), this will spare your muscles, but you should keep your concentration on the sometimes rutted cart paths.

Palheiro Golf Club (Photo: Azalea Group)

One of the most beautiful spots in Madeira

On the club’s terrace, you can enjoy the excellent cuisine and the view over Funchal and the sea. Mediterranean dishes “with an oriental touch” are served by the neighbouring Hotel Casa Velha do Palheiro, which runs the restaurant. Fish and seafood here are fresh and regional. Around a dozen desserts sweeten the memory, especially the Pastéis de Nata, for which Portugal is world-famous, should not be missed. The club terrace is definitely one of the most beautiful spots in Madeira.

The clubs terrace and its stunning view across Funchal. (Photo: Azalea Group)

Categories
Europe Travel

Madeira: The flower island becomes a golf island

Madeira offers not only a variety of colours but also three very different golf clubs. (Photos: Azalea Group (left/bottom); Golf Post (right))
Many golfers know that a golfing paradise lies off the west coast of Africa. Too few, however, know that Madeira is one of them. The archipelago, which lies about 500 kilometres north of the Canary Islands, is only just learning to understand itself as a golf destination. Yet the autonomous region of Portugal has no need to hide at all. The climate is pleasant all year round (although it can be hot in summer), the vegetation is impressive and with three golf courses there is enough variety for a golf holiday. Especially as each of the three clubs has its own characteristics. There are also hotels to suit every taste and standard. Tourists of other sports have been here for many years. Bikers, surfers and hikers have long since discovered the main island of Madeira for themselves. On the golf courses, on the other hand, there are still many free tee times. This is probably one of the reasons why you play more relaxed rounds at Palheiro Golf Club, Santo da Serra Golf or Porto Santo Golf on the neighbouring island than further south.

Fulfil all five senses

In terms of landscape and vegetation, a comparison with the Spanish neighbours is also obvious. And here, only the northern half of Gran Canaria comes close. On Madeira, “something” is always in bloom; it’s no coincidence that it’s also called the flower island. The rugged volcanic rocks that stretch like fans from the centre of the island to the coast are also covered with lush green vegetation in many places on the southern slopes. While it often rains in the north, from which the south of the island also benefits in a sustainable way thanks to the irrigation canals, the weather situation on the two golf courses in the west is usually very stable.

Santo de Serra Golf – The sporting flagship

Santo da Serra Golf is located directly above the airport, which bears the name of the island’s most famous son – Christiano Ronaldo. The 27-hole course with over 80 years of tradition is the sporting flagship. Between 1993 and 2008 and later from 2012 to 2015, the Madeira Island Open on the European Tour took place here. It is not only the tour players who enjoy the spectacular panoramas of the green slopes opposite, across deep valleys and the views of the open sea at Santo de Serra Golf. Of course, given the topographical conditions, there are certain differences in altitude to be overcome on the course. At the Palheiro Golf Club, only a few kilometres away, the slopes are much steeper. The holes of the Santo de Serra Golf Club, on the other hand, are relatively level. The large, open clubhouse is a great place to enjoy traditional Portuguese and Madeiran food and drinks after your round.

Palheiro Golf Club – The Unconventional One

The clubhouse terrace of the Palheiro Golf Club is also an absolute must when on holiday in Madeira. It is located around 500 metres above the city of Funchal and offers an unobstructed view of it. On the unconventionally designed par 72 course, you also have a breathtaking view of the capital of the archipelago at some points. On the course, however, it’s better to concentrate on the essentials due to many blind shots and partly rutted cart paths. If you play carefully and precisely on the not too long course, you will have a lot of fun. Sometimes wide, sometimes narrow, challenging greens, large differences in elevation – you are constantly confronted with changing tasks.

Porto Santo Golf Course – “Seves” Legacy

The course on the neighbouring island of Porto Santo, designed by Severiano Ballesteros, is completely different. It is not situated on the slopes of the steep lava cliffs like the other two clubs, but at sea level at the foot of the surrounding mountains. The course stretches almost the entire length of the small island from the dunes in the south to the basalt cliffs in the north. Thus, the course also divides into very different halves. While the northern nine shows off the coastline and sea views, the southern loop of the Porto Santo Golf Club is reminiscent of American parkland golf. There are many water hazards in play here and long hitters usually have a considerable advantage. Porto Santo is wonderfully suited for a day trip. It takes only 20 minutes by plane from Madeira. But it’s also worth taking the ferry at least one way. A maritime dinner on the ship makes a wonderful end to the trip.

Hotels are ready for golfers

With the Madeira Golf Pass you can play three or five rounds on the three courses for a fixed price, which is much cheaper than booking a green fee each. The number of rounds you play on one of the courses is freely selectable. In the course of the expansion of golf tourism on Madeira, some hotels now also have a golf consierge available to assist with booking tee times and organising transfers. These hotels include the Galo Resort (5 stars), a spa and wellness hotel that claims to be climate neutral. The standard rooms are quite small, but the suites are all the larger. The location of the bar and restaurant, which are built directly on the steep cliffs, is outstanding. Here you can enjoy drinks and food with an unobstructed view of the ocean, whether indoors or on one of the terraces. The Galo Resort (Photo: Azalea Group)

Bright and colourful

Also right on the coast is the Melia Madeira Mare Resort (5 stars). Here, too, sea views are standard and the hotel is geared towards golfers. Even if the hotel has perhaps one star too many, you can spend relaxing hours here. In addition to golf, many holidaymakers oganise numerous other sporting activities. Both hotels are only about 15 minutes away from the island’s capital Funchal and thus invite you to make excursions to the coastal city. Besides the colourful flora, the brightly painted doors of many residential houses are a particular tourist magnet. One of the best places to get to know the extent of the island’s diverse vegetation is the Palheiro Garden, which borders directly on the golf course. The oldest trees have been here for almost 200 years. Thanks to the subtropical climate, there are different flowers to admire in every season. Palheiro Gardens (Photo: Azalea Group)
Categories
Highlights Tours

PGA Tour: Players Championship 2022 to end on Monday

Heavy rain and thunderstorms have delayed the Players Championship 2022. (Photo: Getty Images)

The Players Championship, the most important event on the PGA Tour apart from the majors, will definitely not end before Monday in 2022. With the first round already dragging on for two days and still not finished, Chief Referee Gary Young said on Friday afternoon (local time): “We are into a Monday finish. We know that.”

For the first time since 2005, the Players Championship will thus not finish on Sunday as scheduled, but on Monday at the earliest. It is already clear, Young said, that there will not be enough time for a potential play-off on Sunday. The play-off would be played over three holes and is therefore more time-consuming than usual.

Full Leaderboard Players Championship 2022

The first round of the Players Championship is still in progress

But first the first round has to be finished. After not even half of the field played 18 holes on Thursday, the weather chaos continued seamlessly on Friday. Still 47 players have not finished the first round. More rain has already been forecasted for Saturday morning, so play will definitely not resume before 11 am (local time).

In his statement on Friday afternoon, Young also said that more than 3 inches of rain had fallen on the TPC Sawgrass in the last 48 hours. At times, the course was flooded in some places. It was only thanks to the help of numerous helpers who cleared the greens of standing water that play could begin at all on Friday. No further precipitation is forecast for Saturday afternoon and Sunday so far.

Categories
Highlights Tours

Saudi International 2022 LIVE blog: Harold Varner III wins with last minute eagle

Follow the Asian Tours Saudi International 2022 in our live blog. (Photo by Oisin Keniry/Getty Images)

The Saudi International 2022 is underway and surprisingly many stars from the US and Europe are taking part in the $5 million event. Follow Dustin Johnson, Tommy Fleetwood, Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia and all the others in our LIVE BLOG. Latest updates are posted here regularly. Refresh the page to see the latest posts.

Full Leaderboard Saudi International 2022

The tournament is controversially discussed. While many international stars are taking part in exchange for high entry fees, many media outlets are pointing out the human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia. The organisers are accused of “sport washing” to distract from the country’s bad image. The golf pros largely ignore the debate.

Read more on the debate here!

FIND ALL NEWS ON THE TOURNAMENT HERE.

Day 3 of the Saudi International 2022 LIVE

Harold Varner III wins Saudi International 2022

13:30

Harold Varner III scores even better and holes his eagle putt on the 18th hole. He wins the Saudi International 2022.

13:25

Varner shots a birdie on hole 17. If he manages to score another one on his last hole there will be a playoff between him and Bubba Watson.

13:10

Bubba Watson takes the lead with a stunning birdie-eagle finish. He is now at -12 and holds a two shot lead before Varner. Varner has still two holes to play.

12:30

Harold Varner III faced some difficulties at the 14th hole and scored a doublebogey. He falls back at -11 but remains on position number one.

Tommy Fleetwood is at -9 after another bogey on hole 14, he is one shot in front of Englishman Steve Lewton, who is at -2 for the day (-8 for the tournament) and made his way up the leaderboard.

11:50

Bubba Watson falls back at -3 for the day and the shared 4th position with Matthes Wolff at -9 overall score.

11:30

Adri Arnaus maybe can’t withstand the pressure and falls back to -11 with three bogeys in a row and a share of 2nd place with Tommy Fleetwood, two strokes behind Varner.

11:00

Frustating doublebogey for Bubba Watson makes him fall back at T5 and -9.

Adri Arnaus bogeys as well and is now again in a shared lead with Varner at -13.

10:40

Bubba Watson takes off, with five under par on the front nine he is only three strokes behind Adri Arnaus, who moves back to the top of the leaderboard with an eagle on hole 7.

Matthew Wolff is just one shot behind Watson at T4 with Tommy Fleetwood.

Dustin Johnson falls back with two consecutive bogeys on hole 8 and 9. He is now at +1 on the shared 13. rank.

10:10

With a bogey from Adri Arnaus and a Birdie from Harold Varner III the leader changes once more. Varner is now again in the lead at -13.

Defending champion Dustin Johnson is at -1 at T8 after starting strong with a birdie, followed with a bogey on the 3. hole and a second birdie on hole 4.

09:40

Adri Arnaus takes the solo lead with a birdie at the 4. hole. He is now at -13. Tommy Fleetwood scored a birdie as well and is now at -11 on third position.

09:20

Adri Arnaus has a strong start. With a birdie on the second hole he ties first place with Varner at -12.

Phil Mickelson is on a good run as well. With three birdies within seven holes he is currently at T10 with a six under par total score.

Defending champion Dustin Johnsons starts with three pars in a row and sits at ninth position with -7.

08:30

Strong start for Bubba Watson and Matthew Wolff. Watson played back to back birdies on his first two holes and is climbing the leaderboard with -8 in total. Wolff is at -2 as well and sits one shot behind Watson on T6.

08:20

This, or something like it, is how the pros prepared for the final day of the Saudi International. Xander Schauffele starts his round with a birdie.
The last flight with Fleetwood, Arnaus and Varner III is about to start the exciting last round at the Royal Greens Golf & Country Club.

14:53

And that’s it! Harold Varner III manages to birdie the 18th, Arnaus plays par and so the American goes into Sunday with a one stroke lead and a total score of -12.

But behind the leading duo lurk a number of top stars. Tommy Fleetwood (-10), Cameron Smith (-9) and Dustin Johnson (-7) will do everything they can to catch Varner III.

That’s it for today from the Saudi International! We’ll be back for them tomorrow when the title is on the line!

14:25

Defending champion Dustin Johnson finished today’s round with a birdie and is currently tied for fifth place.

14:05

And directly the next bogey for the Spaniard and thus Harold Varner III is again in the solo lead with three holes to go.

13:41

Two bogeys at the top. Both Arnaus and Varner III have to accept a stroke loss at the 14th hole and are now only two strokes ahead of the first chasers.

13:08

Fleetwood runs hot! With back-to-back birdies on holes 12 and 13, the Englishman is now knocking at the top of the leaderboard. He is still two shots behind the leading duo, but with five holes to go, it looks like Fleetwood will be in a good position for tomorrow.

12:50

The two players in the last flight don’t give each other anything today! While Varner III has to accept a bogey on the 11th, Arnaus plays the first two holes of the back nine birdie and already both are back on top at -12, with seven holes to go.

12:20

Half time on Moving Day! The top players start their back nine. Harold Varner III is now two strokes ahead of the first pursuers Adri Arnaus and  three strokes in front of Cam Smith.

11:59

That’s what we call good content: Range session with Bubba Watson, you gotta love it!

11:50

What an up and down. Cam Smith corrects his bogey on the sixth with a birdie on the eighth and moves past Arnaus into second place. The Spaniard Arnaus had to accept his second bogey at the eight and falls back.

There is also a lot happening on the places behind. Tommy Fleetwood seems to have found his momentum. The Englishman is now in a strong fourth place.

11:36

While Harold Varner III and Adri Arnaus are back at the top of the leaderboard, we have already collected the first pictures of the day for you! Click here!

11:07

The first players are already back in the clubhouse. By now, the best round of the day is played by Paul Casey (64/-6). The Englishman shows a top performance on the back nine, plays five birdies and sits on a shared 16th place.

11:05

Not bad at all!

10:52

Harold Varner III strikes back! After a bumpy start, the American seems to have caught himself and plays an eagle on the fourth hole. With this he passes Arnaus/Smith again and is now in the solo lead.

10:34

Cameron Smith moved to the top of the leaderboard. After three holes, the Australian is at -1 and also benefits from the slips of Arnaus and Varner III, who are both one over par after three holes. Slowly, the Moving Day is really starting to move!

10:13

Henrik Stenson also gets off to a good start. The Swede plays three consecutive birdies at the holes 4, 5 and 6 and catapults himself to the shared tenth place.

The two leaders Adri Arnaus and Harold Varner start the moving day with a par.

9:22

What a start from Ian Poulter. The Englishman seems to have set his sights high for today and plays the first six holes three under par. At the moment that means a shared 20th place for Poulter.

Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson are now also on the course and both played a birdie on the first hole!

8:50

The last two players on the moving day are on their way. Who can make up places today, who can keep the connection to the top group? Now in the live ticker!

05.02.2022 – Moving Day

Tommy Fleetwood is at 5 after second at the PIF Saudi International

15:10

The second round of the Saudi International 2022 is finished. The cut was made at four over par and 75 players are going into the weekend.

14:40

Dustin Johnson finishes the second round with a par. This puts him in 14th place overall at -4. In good company with Phil Mickelson and Tyrrell Hatton.

14:10

Patrick Reed finishes his round with two consecutive birdies to move to -1 for the day and -5 for the tournament. He sits at the 9. rank.

14:00

Dustin Johnson and Matteo Manassero take steps back and up the leaderboard by scoring a birdie each. Johnson moved to the 14. rank and Manassero is back at 9. position.

13:40
Xander Schauffele manages a very good finish. On hole 17 and 18 he plays a bogey each and climbs up to the shared ninth rank.
Meanwhile, Matteo Manassero continues to go downhill. He adds two more bogeys on the second nine to the two bogeys on the first nine. He is currently on his 15th hole.
Dutsin Johnson takes another bogey. Currently only the 16th rank for him.
13:00
Adri Arnaus catches up with Harold Varner III! With a birdie at the 17 he raises his score today to 4-under-par and draws level with the leader.

12:40
Only three holes left for Adri Arnaus. He is just one stroke behind leader Harold Varner III and still has a chance to take the lead.

12:30
Matteo Manassero currently falls back to 6th place. With two bogeys and no birdie, his front nine did not go as desired. Maybe he can now turn the tide on his second nine.
11:40
The wind is picking up, not making it easier for the players of the afternoon session.


11:20
Adri Arnaus making a move. The Spaniard is currently the only player on the course to get closer to Harold Varner III. He is two shots off the lead. Meanwhile “DJ” drops a shot at the 8 hole and falls back to 5 under.
10:40
Tommy Fleetwood has finished his second round at -7. The Englishman stays in contention three shots behind the current leader.
10:17
Harold Varner III sets the new club house target at 10 under par. After an opening 64 (-6) he posts a 66 (-4) on day 2 of the Saudi International 2022.


09:50
Over night leader Matteo Manassero kicks off his second round with a par on hole 10. Can he remain on top of the leaderboard? The Italian felt pretty comfortable after the first round, stating: “It was one of those days in which everything was going my way. I was playing really solid, giving myself a lot of birdie chances, a lot of really short ones, as well. So just got the round going and just felt comfortable. That’s the right word, I guess.”

08:45
Fan favorite Phil Mickelson hitting “bombs” in his unique style.


07:56
Earlier today it was announced that Bryson DeChambeau has withdrawn from the Saudi International 2022 due to an injury of his left wrist and hip. The US Open winner has mentioned problems with his left wrist continously over the last couple of weeks.
07:32

Categories
Professionals

Watching his son: Tiger Woods back on the course

Tiger Woods was spotted at a Junior golf Event his son Charlie took part in. (source: Twitter.com/GolfWRX)

Since his serious car accident at the end of February this year, Tiger Woods has made himself scarce. Understandably so, because it is still completely open whether he will ever return to the Tour. The superstar is still concentrating on his recovery and is intensively attending to his rehab. Pictures have hardly been seen of him. Only one post on Instagram shows the 45-year-old on crutches with his dog in April.

Now he has been spotted without a walker for the first time since. He was back on the golf course with his girlfriend Erica Herman as a spectator at his son Charlie’s golf tournament. Admittedly, a serious statement about the state of his recovery cannot be read from the pictures. But there seems to be some progress, otherwise Woods would not be on the road without crutches.

Tiger Woods back on the course

Categories
Live

Tiger Woods: I miss the energy and the positiveness

Tiger Woods during his practise round. (Getty Images)

THE MODERATOR: We are pleased to welcome three-time U.S. Open champion Tiger Woods to the interview area. Tiger, who has won nine USGA championships, is making his 22nd U.S. Open appearance.

Q. You haven’t played a ton of golf this year, but for your last victory at ZOZO, you were coming off a bit of a break then. How were you able to peak that week in particular, and what has been missing maybe since then?

TIGER WOODS: Well, I was kind of hopeful that I’d be able to play ZOZO because I had just had knee surgery, and everything was kind of rounding into form. I felt pretty good. My knee felt a hell of a lot better and all of a sudden I putted well that week and was able to go on to win.


This year I really haven’t putted as well as I wanted to, and the times I did make a few swing mistakes, I missed it in the wrong spots. Consequently, I just didn’t have the right looks at it. I’ve compounded mistakes here and there that ended up not making me able to make pars or a birdie run, and consequently I haven’t put myself in contention to win events.

Q. In the list of courses that maybe have been the most difficult, where would you rank Winged Foot?

TIGER WOODS: Well, I think it’s right up there next to Oakmont and I think Carnoustie as far as just sheer difficulty without even doing anything to it. I think those three golf courses, they can host major championships without ever doing anything to them.


This one or Oakmont here is either one or two.

Q. Can you talk about your preparation for this golf course based on your previous performances here and the highest winning scores here in the past?

TIGER WOODS: Yeah, I was able to come up here right before I played in Boston, take a look at the golf course, and I was able to get my sight lines. This golf course is going to be one of the more difficult ones. The winning scores here have never traditionally been very low. I don’t see that changing this week.


The golf course is going to be hard. It depends on how difficult they want to set up these pins, give us a chance at it. But with the forecast, it’s going to be difficult no matter what.

Q. How much did a difficult venue like Olympia Fields in your last start help you prepare for Winged Foot?

TIGER WOODS: Yeah, Olympia Fields was hard. It was fast, dry, which is unlike this golf course right now. It’s going to obviously dry out, but the rough is very sticky here and very thick and lush. Olympia Fields, the rough was high, but generally most of the lies we had in the rough were downgrain, and guys were able to get the ball up near the greens, but obviously the greens were difficult.


Most of the lies we’ve had so far this week, they’re not really downgrain, so it’ll be interesting to see how much the USGA will cut the rough down and allow us to try and be a little bit more aggressive and get the ball up around the greens.

Q. How will the experience be different for you at a U.S. Open without fans?

TIGER WOODS: It’s going to be — you know, it’s something that unfortunately this is our new reality. This is something we’re getting used to. It’s not something we like. We want the fans and we want the atmosphere out there, but safety is first.

Q. What is your health preparation like each week as you play in a tournament compared to your practice prep? Which takes more? Which is harder to get feeling good and feeling like you’re ready for a tournament compared to your health prep and feeling good with your body?

TIGER WOODS: Well, the health comes first. Whether or not I feel physically good enough where I can put in the practice, that’s my unfortunate reality. I’ve had four back surgeries. Trying to be healthy enough so that I can practice and I’m able to spend the time that I want, that I need to.

Q. Which takes more time?

TIGER WOODS: What’s that?

Q. Practice or just getting loose?

TIGER WOODS: Well, I have to train in order to practice, and I have to get my back loose enough to where I’m able to practice. That’s just the way it is.

Q. Gary Woodland was just in here telling us a funny story about you guys being at Liberty National and you had to get him straight on how many U.S. Opens you had won, but then you guys concluded that among your four, you don’t have one on a private course. Do you distinguish at all U.S. Opens on private courses versus public courses?

TIGER WOODS: You know, I think that USGA events — how can I put this? This year is unique. We don’t have a lot of qualifiers, and we don’t have access into the event like we’ve had in years past. Whether we play on a public course or private course is irrelevant. I think that the qualification is what makes this event so unique, is that we’re able to qualify for this event and have unique opportunities.


Unfortunately this year it’s not one of those.

Q. You grew up playing public courses; do you regard the Old Course as a muni?

TIGER WOODS: The Old Course?

Q. Yeah.

TIGER WOODS: I think the Old Course is unique in whatever you want to call it. I think that — it’s where the home of golf is, and the fact that everyone has a chance to play it, I think that’s what makes it so special.

Q. Coming off the tennis U.S. Open, Serena and Rafa are both in positions to tie some big records coming up, and you’re one of the few people who qualify to answer this. Does it get harder to win a major the closer you get to the all-time mark and why?

TIGER WOODS: You know, I think it gets harder to win as we all age. I think that when you’re in your prime, in your peak years, you have to take advantage of those opportunities so that when you get to the all-time marks, you have the opportunity.


I think that whether it’s Rafa or Fed or Serena, they’ve been so consistent and so dominant for such a long period of time, that’s how you get to — you can have those all-time marks. Consistency over a long period of time is the hallmark of those records.

Q. You’ve talked in the past about when you practice your putting, you go back a lot of times to what you and your dad used to work on. Is that still the case, or have you mixed up the routine over the years?

TIGER WOODS: I have changed the routine and some of the things that I’ve done over the years, but I still go back to what my dad always taught me, which is obviously putt to the picture. Whatever I’m working on at that particular time, once I get out there and I putt, just putt.

Q. I think ’06 here was the first tournament you played after your dad passed. How difficult was it for you that week, and then in the month that followed? Just talk about your mindset and getting ready to win one for him at Royal Liverpool.

TIGER WOODS: Yeah, when I didn’t win the Masters that year, that was really tough to take because that was the last event my dad was ever going to watch me play. He passed not too long after that, and quite frankly, when I got ready for this event, I didn’t really put in the time. I didn’t really put in the practice, and consequently missed the cut pretty easily.


But after that I was able to do some practicing, did some — probably some pretty good grieving after this championship, played well at the Western and then went on to really play well at the British. I think it was just — I was not prepared to play and still dealing with the death of my dad.

Q. Only 15 players in the field played in the 2006 U.S. Open. Do you see that as an advantage?

TIGER WOODS: Well, the golf course has changed a lot since then. Obviously the greens, they’ve all been redone, and most of the holes are a lot longer than when we played in ’06. But technology has changed, and the golf ball is going further. Guys are hitting it further. So we’re playing from about the same spots. It’s just whatever — it seems like every green you have to walk back a little bit further.

Q. Can you describe what it meant to you after all the surgeries and the years of not winning majors to come back and win the Masters, and was there anything special that you felt that week that you can relate to this week? How do you rate your chances here?

TIGER WOODS: Well, when I won the Masters last year, it was — I was not feeling particularly well prior to that. My neck was bothering me. I didn’t play in Bay Hill. For some reason I felt physically better and my training sessions felt good. I changed shafts in my driver right before the event, and I was able to start turning the ball over.


Then all of a sudden I put myself in contention and I wasn’t really — I wasn’t leading but I was near the lead, and each day I progressively got a little bit better, and come Sunday, I put all the pieces together.

Q. Several players here have said that of all the people out on Tour, you feed off the fans more than anything. In that regard, I know you said you miss them, but in that regard, how much do you miss the fans?

TIGER WOODS: Well, for me in particular, I miss the energy and just the positiveness that the fans bring and just that electricity. But that’s something that I’ve been playing in front of for over two decades. That’s something I’ve been a part of, and I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of that.


What we’re dealing with right now is not what we all want, but it’s our reality, and it’s the energy that’s just not quite the same without the fans.

Q. Even without the fans, is there something special about coming back to the New York metropolitan area and playing?

TIGER WOODS: Yeah, I think that this area has some of the best golf courses on the planet, but also what makes coming up here and being a part of these events are the fans and the energy that this entire area brings. They love sports. It’s a shame that we’re not going to have that atmosphere out here this particular week, but obviously everyone will be watching and be supporting at home or wherever is the safest.

Q. Still meaningful to you that a lot of these fans will be rooting for you even if they’re home?

TIGER WOODS: Absolutely it is. It’s not the same without the fan experience, but as I said, this is our reality for right now.

Q. Are you using your standard Scotty Cameron?

TIGER WOODS: Yes, I am.

Q. A strategy question: With fairways this hard to hit and rough this penal, it seems like everyone is going to be missing a lot of fairways. Do you anticipate hitting a lot of drivers so you aren’t too far back, or do you anticipate laying back to keep it in the fairway?

TIGER WOODS: Yeah, you know, I think a lot of that is dependent on which way the wind is blowing. The forecast three of the four days will be blowing out of the north, and I think that that will make a difference. Some of the tee shots that we hit today, slightly different wind than what we played on Sunday, and so I think that strategy-wise it’s ebb and flow.


For me in particular I’m trying to play to certain areas. Whatever club that is, could be 5-wood, could be driver or a 3-wood. I’m trying to play to a specific spot and then move on from there.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you, Tiger. Good luck this week.