Tiger enjoying yacht life in Sag Harbor
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Tiger Woods brought his yacht, Privacy, to a U.S. Open in New York and missed the cut for the first time in a major.
That was 12 years ago when the Open was at Winged Foot.
He can only hope for a different outcome at Shinnecock Hills.
“Staying on the dinghy helps,” Woods said with a grin.
The 155-foot yacht is said to include a Jacuzzi, gym and movie theater. It doesn’t sound as though Woods has spent much time ashore except for being at Shinnecock Hills for his first U.S. Open in three years.
“Sag Harbor is a cute little town,” he said. “I’ve only been there for a few days now. I haven’t really got a chance to walk about a little bit but certainly will this week. So far, it’s been nice to kind of get away from the tournament scene and go there to my dinghy, and just really enjoy it.”
Woods at least has been able to avoid the traffic that has led to commutes of close to two hours from the official hotel depending on the time of morning. Most players have rented homes in the Southampton area.
Woods said he stayed with Shinnecock Hills members when he played as an amateur in the 1995 U.S. Open and near the course in 2004.
The Hamptons has no shortage of yachts, and someone suggested to Woods it must feel odd not to have the biggest ship in New York.
“I’m not opposed to that,” Woods said. Playoff fever
Jordan Spieth now knows that when he’s tied for the lead after 72 holes on Sunday, his work is not done.
The USGA has changed its playoff format for all its open championships. If the U.S. Open goes to a playoff, it will be a two-hole aggregate playoff (followed by sudden death if still tied), instead of an 18-hole playoff.
Spieth was asked about the two-hole playoff.
“It’s the first I’ve heard of that being an option,” he said. “It’s still 18 holes, right?”
Wrong.
Back to No. 2
If you blinked, you might have missed Justin Thomas’ reign atop golf ’s world ranking.
The PGA champion took the top spot in May. It’s gone, with Dustin Johnson’s win at Memphis this past weekend catapulting him to No. 1, with Thomas just behind.
Of course, a win at Shinnecock Hills in the U.S. Open this week would push Thomas back to the top.
“It didn’t affect me, or it wasn’t that hard on me because I couldn’t do anything about it,” Thomas said. “I wasn’t playing. I played one tournament and had a good tournament, finished eighth. And D.J. won, so it’s not like he didn’t play well and didn’t earn it or anything. He won a golf tournament and a great tournament. So there’s nothing I can be upset about for that.”
Trailer living
Jason Day has learned that life in a motor home can be rewarding on the PGA Tour. He also has learned it can be messy when Bubba Watson is around.
Day is staying in what he calls “the bus” in a parking area close to Shinnecock Hills for the U.S. Open. The Australian uses the RV for about 15 tournaments a season, and several other tour golfers have joined him.
One is Watson.
“Bubba just got one this year, and I’m very kind of more private, and he’s, yeah, he’s a little bit more outgoing,” Day recalled, a wide smile on his face. “And I think we’re at Augusta, and he walks under my bus, and he’s like, ‘Hey, man, what are you doing?’
“I’m just sitting in the bus watching TV. He’s like OK. And he’s standing there. And I’m like, do you want to come inside? And he’s eating a burrito, and he decides to come in and talk to me for about 30 minutes. He gets his burrito all over the ground and then just leaves.
“Actually, it’s nice to have people like that around, you know, to mess your bus up when you need them to.”