Woods shows competitive zeal with text to Spieth

Tiger Woods has found a way to stay competitive without having played for five months.

Woods, who said Monday that he has checked out of a clinic where he was getting help with managing pain medications, still managed to keep in touch with players.

Jason Day told Golf Channel that Woods sent him a text after the opening round of the U.S. Open asking that he call him because Woods saw something in his swing. Day shot 79 and said he was so angry he never called. Presidents Cup captain Steve Stricker told Golf Digest that Woods sounded good when they spoke on the phone. Woods is an assistant captain, and being around players in team settings has become some of his favorite moments.

And then there was the text to Jordan Spieth.

Spieth said Woods saw a statistic on Twitter that listed the players who finished runner-up to him in his first four PGA Tour victories — Davis Love III (Las Vegas), Payne Stewart (Disney), Tom Lehman (Mercedes Championship) and Tom Kite (Masters).

The text exchange came one day after Spieth had won the Travelers Championship, joining Woods as the only players to win at least 10 times before turning 24 (Woods won 15 times in 40 fewer starts).

Woods wanted to know who were the players to finish runner-up in Spieth’s first four PGA Tour victories.

Spieth said he gave him the list — Zach Johnson (John Deere Classic), Patrick Reed (Valspar Championship), Phil Mickelson (Masters) and Dustin Johnson (U.S. Open).

“Tiger sent me a text back that said, ‘Not bad,’ with a winking face and then, ‘Mine is still better,’” Spieth said with a laugh.

Open season

A pair of former Oklahoma State golfers found consolation in a runner-up finish last week — Peter Uihlein (French Open) and Charles Howell III (Quicken Loans National) earned spots in the British Open through the Open Qualifying Series.