Tiger Woods emphasised that Rory McIlroy will have to grapple with the “unfiltered emotion” of his dreadful US Open defeat for an extended period. With just five holes remaining at Pinehurst, McIlroy momentarily commanded a lead of two shots but triple-bogeyed on the last four, missing by two feet and six inches on the 16th, and three feet nine inches at the conclusion, ending one shot short of Bryson DeChambeau.
McIlroy, a holder of four major titles, acknowledged at the start of this week that among the sportspersons rallying around him with messages of encouragement were Michael Jordan and Rafael Nadal, with Woods also doing the same.
“I shot him a kind text,” Woods disclosed during his press briefing prior to the 152nd Open Championship. “I took a week’s break before sending it. I thought it best to let things settle down. I was aware he was inundated with a plethora of distractions, and I allowed a week for things to simmer.”
When queried about the contents of the message, Woods remarked, “Simply put, as per your understanding, I am your buddy. I realise this is a harsh point. All of us as victors have been in that predicament. We all face losses. Regrettably, it simply transpired and the raw feeling of it continues to linger and is expected to for I’m certain, a considerable time.
“The sooner he chalks up a reentry riding high in the saddle and returning to contest like he did the preceding week [at the Scottish Open], the more it will bolster McIlroy.”
McIlroy confessed his unease over his par putt on the 16th, an apprehension Woods, an owner of fifteen major championships, could resonate with.
“Yes, certainly. Apprehensive, jittery, ill at ease, all,” Woods concurred. “This is an inherent part of it. This is why we love it. This is why we engage in practice, to steel ourselves in such awkward circumstances and to rise above it.”
“I have squandered loads of putts. I have botched numerous shots. Just in the vein of [Michael] Jordan… you catch sight of the match-winning hits, but he too has failed to clinch scores of such hits. The point is you keep aiming for the winning goal, and I continue to crave the final putt.”
In responding to the hardest defeat in his professional golf career, Woods singled out the 2009 US PGA Championship, which was ultimately claimed by YE Yang. This particular loss was significant as it was the first occurrence of Woods not securing a Major title after leading in the tournament’s initial 54 holes. Woods confessed that his mistakes during the crucial mid-section of the game were difficult to overcome, admitting that he did quite a few and it was these errors that cost him the win. Despite a fervent rally at the end, his effort was in vain.
Woods further dismissed speculations about a possible retirement, pointedly referring to Colin Montgomerie’s supposition that he should step down. He pointed out that unlike Montgomerie, he is a former champion and thus has an exemption until 60 and added, somewhat sarcastically, that he even has the privilege to make that retirement decision even at Montgomerie’s age.
Woods’ last Major win was in the 2019 Masters, and later that year, he had another victory in the Zozo Championship. However, Woods has struggled post a car crash in 2021, which had led to fears of his right leg being amputated. Since the accident, Woods has only participated in nine tournaments, managing to secure a spot only thrice. His performance in the US Open—missing the cut by two strokes—had prompted Montgomerie to comment on Woods’ career, suggesting it may well be time to say goodbye, although he acknowledged that Woods still harbours the desire to win.
In a social media response after Wood’s press meet, Montgomerie asked for a direct query for any of his thoughts on Woods, while also extending well-wishes for Woods’ imminent week.
In recent times, Woods has struggled to match the high-performance levels he traditionally demonstrated in golf, particularly as the drive lengths increase and favour those who can hit the ball farthest. Yet, the Open is one event where Woods believes he can still exhibit real competitiveness when the links courses provide the precise conditions where accuracy is preferred over distance.
As Woods has aged, his capacity to hit the golf ball a long distance has diminished, though, he noted that in ideal wind and trajectory circumstances, it is possible to roll the ball up to 100 yards in the Open. This, he points out, might explain why some older champions often emerge on the leaderboard as they are not obligated to achieve a distance of 320 yards.
In preparation, Woods has been rigorously training and admits that the intense gym sessions have been beneficial. His body feels more energised to undertake such tasks, and this improved condition is reflecting in his golf swings. Woods was successful in the Open in 2000, 2005, and 2006.