The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tiger’s nerve yet to return
CARNOUSTIE, SCOTLAND — All around him on a windy summer day on the links of Carnoustie, the leaders were imploding as Tiger Woods moved into the lead at the turn. It felt like old times at the British Open, as familiar as his Sunday red shirt and the swarm of fans that cheered his every shot.
Then Woods imploded, too, and there’s something that’s become increasingly familiar about that.
If this was the Woods of 15 years ago, he likely would be “the champion golfer of the year,” as they say over here, and have his name on the claret jug a fourth time.
But what felt like old times for a brief moment ended up as just another collapse story, like the ones Woods’ fans have seen more recently.
Francesco Molinari, Woods’ partner Sunday, won the Open with no bogeys over the final 37 holes. Woods finished tied for sixth.
Woods flinched when it mattered most, the nerves of a 42-year-old on display for all to see. Just when he took the lead and everyone’s imagination began to swirl about what might be, he kicked away his best chance of breaking a decade-long drought in majors.
“A little ticked off at myself, for sure,” Woods said. “I had a chance starting that back nine to do something, and I didn’t do it.”
Woods had the tourna- ment in his hands after hitting a brilliant fairway bunker shot to make par on No. 10. He walked to the next tee with a one-shot lead.
Then his tee shot went right, and his second shot veered way left. Woods got a break by hitting someone in the gallery, but then left his pitch on the side of a pot bunker. When he missed an 8-footer to make double bogey he was out of the lead. Another bogey on the next hole, and he was basically out of the tournament.
Woods is in a race against time — and that’s a race no one ever seems to win.
“It didn’t feel any differ- ent,” he insisted. “It didn’t feel any different to be next to the lead and knowing what I need to do. I’ve done it so many different ways.”
Woods looks as strong as he did in his prime, but good muscles don’t mean calm nerves. And throughout his comeback year Woods has misfired every time he has gotten near contention.
It might be because there is so much as stake, despite a legacy that is already in golf ’s record books. Another major would have validated years of struggles. A tie for sixth means nothing.
Woods embraced his two children, telling them he hoped they were proud of him for trying hard.
“It’s pretty emotional because they gave me some pretty significant hugs there,” he said. “I know that they know how much this championship means to me and how much it feels good to be back playing again.”