Mickelson out, Woods in spotlight
Tiger Woods arrived at Southern Hills yesterday and, after all the negativity of defending champion Phil Mickelson withdrawing, suddenly there is a hugely positive light set on the 104th US PGA Championship.
While Mickelson pulled out at the weekend – continuing a threemonth competitive absence in the midst of the controversy of his involvement with the Saudi breakaway tour – Woods has been enjoying a highly unfamiliar time out of the spotlight.
But now the attention switches to the 46-year-old. Unless Woods is in Oklahoma to see the wind come sweeping down the plain, he is there to prepare for his extraordinary comeback at Augusta.
Without a competitive appearance in 17months after a car crash in which he almost lost his right leg, Woods incredibly made the cut before finishing in the top 50.
And despite the doubts he expressed in the immediate aftermath that his body would not recover in time for Tulsa, once again Woods is clearly upending expectations.
Woods signified his desire to play at the layout where he won the more recent of his four Wanamaker Trophies – in 2007 – when playing a practice round at Southern Hills two weeks ago. His playing partner that day – the Southern Hills head pro Cary Cozby – was certainly impressed.
‘‘Everything is so smooth with him now. His rhythm is great, he hit it straight and plenty far; he pitched and putted it great,’’ Cozby said.
‘‘I know guys can hit it past him now, but watching him work was amazing. He’s so meticulous, detailed and immersed in what he’s doing. He was very inquisitive on lines and the best angles.
‘‘I think he can contend. He’s like Michael Jordan late in his career, playing defence and hitting jump shots. Whoever wins here is going to have to be a great chipper and he is still that.’’
Curtis Strange, the two-time major champion, believes Woods’ feat in Georgia last month was ‘‘surreal’’, but now figures that this time Woods will not be satisfied by merely making the weekend.
‘‘We look back on it and it was fortunate he saved his leg,’’ Strange said. ‘‘He was fortunate to be alive, and there he is trying to play Augusta, and he did. When he just teed it up on Thursday I thought it was a victory of sorts, and I think he mentioned that as well.’’