Tiger niece says uncle on road to recovery

Cheyenne Woods is happy to be playing in her third U.S. Women’s Open this week at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J., and wouldn’t be surprised if she heard from her famous uncle before teeing it up in Thursday’s opening round.

Cheyenne Woods’ father is Earl Woods Jr., the half-brother of Tiger Woods, the 14-time major winner.

“It’s been nice since I’ve been pro,” she said, “to have his input and be able to go back and forth with him a little bit about tips that he has or questions I might have for major championships like this and get those one or two shots a round back.”

Cheyenne Woods said she spoke to her uncle last week amid reports he was undergoing treatment for back pain and a sleep disorder following his May 29 arrest on a DUI charge in Jupiter, Fla.

“He’s doing well,” she said. “He’s keeping up with how I’m doing and giving me tips.”

Woods has two career wins, but has missed the cut in her two previous U.S. Open appearances in 2012 and 2014 and has missed the cut in nine of the 13 events she has played this year. But at 26, she thinks the best is still ahead.

“I’m still in the beginning stages of my career,” she said. “It’s just about continuing to build and get closer and closer to where I think I can be.” The USGA hasn’t ruled out

President Trump, the owner of Trump National, making an appearance this weekend.

“Quite frankly, we don’t know,” said Matt Sawicki of the USGA. “We don’t know the President’s schedule. The only thing we know about the President’s schedule is that he plans on attending a Bastille Day celebration in France on Friday. Beyond that we have not been told.”

Sawicki sounded l i ke he wouldn’t mind if Trump made an appearance.

“There is a long association between the office of the President and the game of golf,” he said. “Ultimately, we think that when the President supports the game of golf, that’s a good thing.”