World No 7 manages to make halfway cut at Royal Golf Club
Tiger Woods comeback after back surgery was a disappointing one
Hoylake: Claret Jug in hands, eyes swelled with tears, Tiger Woods shone at the British Open in 2006. Cut to 2014, and the golfer’s form has certainly dipped. The world no. 7 barely made the halfway cut at the $9.19m Open, and ended his campaign with three-over 75 at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club here. It was the legendary golfer’s first major appearance this year following a back surgery, which seemed to give him trouble this week too as he deposited a final card of six-over 294.
The 38-year-old struggled on the front nine, scoring seven-over during the last three days as opposed to four-under on the back nine. But on the day, it was quite the opposite. He made three bogeys on the back nine against a double and a single on the front. “Unfortunately I didn’t play very well today. I had two triples, two doubles, two or three-putts this week, just way too many mistakes,” said Woods.
“The fact that I was able to play a few weeks ahead of time is great. I am only getting stronger and faster. We did the smart thing by not playing too much leading into this event, just wanted to assess how my back was and where I need to strengthen, how I need to go about it, and all that has come along.” Woods, who received a lot of support from the crowd, said he “was certainly expecting the rust”.
“But I just thought that I know how to play in link courses. I know how to grind it on these courses and hitting the shots I thought I could get around here. I am still building and I am getting stronger and faster,” he said. With Ryder Cup on the hinges, Woods said he was expecting to make the team. “If I was (captain) Tom Watson, I would have given me a spot but that is my take. He is the captain and it’s going to be his decision. I am sure he is going to field the best 12 players that he thinks will win the Cup back. I hope I am on that,” Tiger said.
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