Woods says he used a six-iron for a 120-yard shot on Tuesday when the wind began to strengthen off the coast of Fife Place: St Andrews, Scotland Dates: 14-17 July Coverage: BBC TV, radio and online, on BBC Two, BBC iPlayer, BBC Red Button, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds, BBC Sport website and the BBC Sport mobile app. Complete coverage details.
Tiger Woods believes some players have “turned their backs” on what made them leave the PGA Tour to join the LIV Golf Series, backed by Saudi Arabia.
Speaking in St Andrews before the 150th Open Championship, the 15-time grand winner says it would be “sad” for young players not to experience these events.
“What they’ve done is turn their backs on what has allowed them to get to that position,” Woods said.
LIV golfers who qualified for this week’s Open will be able to play.
However, R&A did not invite LIV CEO Greg Norman to compete in Monday’s Champions Celebration event or attend Tuesday’s Champions Dinner, saying: “The 150th Open is an extremely important milestone. for golf and we want to make sure the focus is maintained by celebrating the Championship and its heritage.
“Unfortunately, we don’t think that would be the case if Greg attended.”
It was a decision called “mesca” by Norman.
However, Woods agreed with the R&A position, saying, “Greg has done some things that I don’t think are in the best interest of our game, and we’re probably going back to the most historic and traditional place in our sport. I think which is correct “.
The LIV circuit has created a division within the game and has attracted some of the best players in the world, with £ 200 million in cash prizes in its eight announced events, two of which have already been played.
The PGA Tour has suspended all members who have competed on the LIV Golf Tour, including top champions Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Reed, who are playing this week.
Woods says the concept of the rebel tour is very different from when Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer supported players who split from the PGA of America to form the PGA Tour in 1968.
“I don’t get it,” Woods added. “I understand what Jack and Arnold did because playing professional golf at the Tour level versus a club professional is different, and I understand that transition and that movement and the recognition that it’s a tour professional versus a club professional.
“But what are these players doing for guaranteed money, what is the incentive to practice? What is the incentive to get out there and win it in the dirt? They only pay you a lot of money in advance and you play a few events. And playing 54 holes, they’re playing music to the fullest and they have all these atmospheres that are different.
“I don’t see how this move is positive in the long run for many of these players, especially if the LIV organization doesn’t achieve world ranking points and major championships change their entry criteria for events.
“It would be sad to see that some of these kids never get a chance to experience it and experience what we get a chance to experience and walk through these sacred lands and play in these championships.
“Some players have never had the opportunity to experience it. They have gone straight from the ranks of fans to this organization and have never had the opportunity to play here and how it feels to play a Tour program. or play in. some great events.
“And who knows what will happen in the near future with the points of the world ranking, the criteria to enter the big championships. The governing body will have to find out.”
“I didn’t want to miss this Open”
However, as he prepares to compete at home golf this week, Woods remains confident that the future of the sport is in a good place.
“I’m very optimistic,” the 46-year-old said. “We are in the biggest golf boom that has occurred because of Covid.
“As a sport it has allowed us to go outdoors and be outside and participate and do some physical activity and get out of the house and still not worry about Covid.
“There are so many new and young golfers approaching. Just look at the Tour, the average age is getting younger and getting better sooner and faster and they are winning at an early age.”
Woods became the youngest player to complete the Grand Slam of his career by winning all four majors with his first Claret Jug with victory at the Old Course in 2000 and calling him his favorite place.
Having a chance to play for the Fife links again after suffering injuries that threatened his career in February last year was an opportunity the triple winner did not miss.
“Most of my rehab was just hoping to be able to walk again, walk normally and have a normal life and maybe play some golf with my son or my friends at home,” he said.
“But look here, this year I played championship golf. And once I realized I could play at a high level, my goal was to come back here to St Andrews to play this championship, because it’s the most historic. never had.
“I didn’t want to miss this Open here at home golf.”
When asked if it could be his last Open in St Andrews – the next one is in 2027 – he replied: “Who knows? I don’t know if I will be able to physically compete at that level by then.
“I don’t know how many open championships I have left here in St Andrews, but I wanted this one.
“To me it started here in ’95 and if it ends here in ’22, yes. If not, no.
“If I get a chance to play one more, it would be great, but there’s no guarantee.”