Tiger Woods had a tough outing at the British Open in his return to Royal Troon on Thursday, culminating in a disappointing performance. The 15-time major champion finished with a score of 8-over par 79. This left him in a precarious position to make the cut.
Tiger Woods’ round started on a high note with a birdie on the third hole, briefly putting him under par and bringing back memories of his past form. Unfortunately, this momentum didn’t last.
Looking ahead to the significance of the event, Woods had expressed doubts about making the [FedExCup] Playoffs, saying, “I’ve only got one more tournament this season. I don’t think even if I win the British Open I’ll be in the [FedExCup] Playoffs,” after the US Open.
The challenging conditions at Royal Troon took their toll on Woods, particularly on the par-3 fifth hole where he encountered significant trouble, resulting in a double bogey that influenced the rest of his round. He struggled through the next few holes, bogeying four out of five, and later double-bogeyed the 11th after an errant tee shot.
Although Woods faced challenges, it’s worth noting that other top players like Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau also struggled with the tricky cross-winds.
Earlier in the week, former world No. 2 Colin Montgomerie had suggested Woods’ retirement, remarking,
“I hope people remember Tiger as Tiger was, the passion and the charismatic aura around him. There is none of that now.”
Tiger Woods, however, was quick to respond to such suggestions.
“Well, as a past [Open] champion, I’m exempt until I’m 60 [and] Colin’s not,” he retorted.
As the tournament continues, it remains to be seen whether this marks the end of an era or the beginning of another comeback for Woods.