The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Old Course brings out belief in Tiger
Woods still setting sights on Nicklaus’ record of 18 major titles
Tiger Woods smiled – not his usual, forced press conference smile – as he scanned a packed press room at St Andrews.
“I know some of you guys think I’m buried and done, but I’m right here in front of you,” he said.
It was in answer to a question that the aim of Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 majors was now “a dream too far”. You will not be surprised to know that Tiger, even seven years removed from his 14th and last major title, doesn’t think it is.
Woods may be in a minority of two on this – Jack himself still thinks, at least publicly, that Tiger will do it – but everyone’s agreed if he is to win at least one more, the Old Course this year is most likely to be the place.
“To me it’s brilliant, you can play it in so many ways,” Woods said yesterday.
A few years ago, when asked to name the four places he’d like to play a major at, he didn’t hesitate before saying “Probably St Andrews, all four times.”
He added to that yesterday by professing a wish to play the Old Course backwards – the original arrangement, and still very occasionally set up in that fashion.
“Before I die I’d like to play it one time backwards, first tee to 17th green, 2nd to 16th green, and so on, just one time,” he said, with rare enthusiasm discussing any subject with the media.
“That would be a blast because you see certain bunkers out there and think ‘why’d they put that there?’ and you realise it’s totally in play if the course is played backwards.”
This week is not quite that different but still not the same Old Course as the burned dry, windless place that Tiger won both his first two Claret Jugs in 2000 and 2005, two unlikely quarks in the local microclimate.
Tiger thinks it’s even softer than it was in 2010, when his attempt to be the first man to win three Opens at St Andrews was baulked by his failure to adjust to slow greens, a windy Friday and Louis Oosthuizen.
“The only time I’ve seen it like this was when we played the Dunhill in 1998. It was colder then, obviously, but the course had the same type of firmness,” he said.
“I had two wedge shots actually back up and I can’t remember that ever happening on this golf course.
“We can’t chase it like we normally do, we’re going to have to be a bit more aggressive than in years past.”
Thus his Open habit of the dawn chorus practice round was ditched for mid-morning, as he tries to get a handle on a slower, softer course and the wind directions he believes are the key to the Old Course.
“Just a five degree change in the wind changes the course completely,” he said. “Experience counts a lot there.
“You have hit the ball well, and you have to lag putt well, but if you haven’t seen the golf course in various winds, it opens up things you just don’t see on the yardage book.
“The first time I played it, the week after the Scottish Open at Carnoustie in 1995, I caught the tide turning just at the wrong time, and had 18 holes all into the wind. It’s still the longest short course I’ve ever played.”
With Jordan Spieth having so little experience on the Old Course – tomorrow will be his first competitive 18 on it – Tiger doesn’t think a simulator can help.
“You can see the course on one and it’s fantastic, but you can’t see the different winds,” he said.
“It does help playing practice rounds with some of the older players and getting their experience, like the benefit sometimes hitting on to adjacent fairways.
“I’ve hit on adjacent fairways in the States but never on purpose like here.”
That was a little aside at himself and his struggles of late, which was also no doubt the source of the “buried and done” comment.
He thinks the worst of his recent troubles are over, even if the only evidence is a decentish weekend at the Greenbrier a couple of weeks ago.
“Last year I was coming off surgery to my back and trying to get my feels, while trying to make a swing change at the same time, which was very difficult,” he said with a rueful smile.
“I was able to turn things around and have a chance to win the Masters this year, we made another shift at the Memorial (where he shot 85 in the third round) and it worked out perfectly at the Greenbrier.”
One tournament – and one where he didn’t putt very well, as happened here in 2010 – but Tiger has to believe.
“I don’t have my AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) card yet,” he joked.
“I feel like my body is finally healed. The guys who had the injury on tour said it took a year to get back, and they were probably right.
“I still love competing, I love playing these events. The emotions always come back here from 2000 and 2005. I am excited to be here.”