A tearful Tiger Woods stated he might by no means get the possibility to grace a British Open at St Andrews once more after lacking the reduce on Friday with a rating of nine-over-par for his two rounds. The 15-time main winner gained two of his three Claret Jugs on the house of golf, however admitted to struggling simply to stroll the 18 holes after a serious automobile crash final yr left him needing emergency surgical procedure on his proper leg. A lot of the harm to Woods’ possibilities of making the weekend was completed on Thursday when he posted a six-over spherical of 78 to match his worst ever begin on the British Open.
He optimistically focused a 66 to get again to the projected reduce stage of even par on a day of low scoring as in a single day rain softened up the fast-running fairways.
Nonetheless, that by no means regarded a practical intention with the bodily toll of the crash clear to see.
“It is exhausting simply to stroll and play 18 holes. Folks do not know what I’ve to undergo and the hours of labor on the physique, pre and submit, every single day to do what I simply did,” stated Woods.
A birdie on the third sparked hope for the massive galleries that one of many sport’s all-time greats may produce a spherical to recollect.
However bogeys at 4 and 6 rapidly snuffed out any probability of a rally.
After a run of 9 straight pars, a double-bogey on the sixteenth rubbed salt into the injuries of a painful few days for the American.
Woods nonetheless acquired a standing ovation as he walked up the 18th fairway and wiped away tears earlier than finishing his spherical of 75.
“I had a couple of tears. I am not one who will get very teary-eyed fairly often about something,” added Woods.
“To me it felt like this might need been my final British Open right here at St Andrews. The followers, the ovation and the heat, it was an unbelievable feeling.”
“Nothing deliberate”
Questions will now be requested over what the long run holds for the 46-year-old.
He belied his bodily illnesses to make the reduce of each the Masters and PGA Championship earlier this yr, however withdrew from the PGA after a nine-over-par third spherical.
His world rating has slipped to 994 as he saves what golf he has left for the majors.
However as a former winner, Woods could have an exemption to qualify for the British Open till he’s 60.
“I’ve nothing deliberate, zero. Possibly one thing subsequent yr, I do not know, however nothing within the close to future. That is it. I used to be simply hoping to play this one occasion this yr.”
Woods stated his expertise over the previous two days reminded him of the farewells he had witnessed to Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus at St Andrews with not simply the followers however fellow execs eager to supply their assist.
US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick, who was taking part in alongside Woods, stated the scenes on 18 gave him “goosebumps”.
“It was unbelievable. It is one thing that can dwell with me perpetually, for certain,” stated Fitzpatrick.
“It is totally deserved and I believe in direction of the top of it, you would see he was somewhat bit emotional as nicely. It was an enormous deal.”
Scottie Scheffler is hoping to turn out to be the primary participant since Woods in 2005 to win the Masters and British Open in the identical yr.
And the world primary believes Woods’ aggressive spirit might but see him return to St Andrews.
“I do not know if this might be Tiger’s final one right here,” stated Scheffler. “He is a reasonably resilient man and he likes to compete.
“Any time you possibly can see that man out on the golf course, particularly The Outdated Course, it is actually particular.”
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