AS TOUGH AS CARNOUSTIE
Tiger: Winged Foot is one of world’s hardest tests
TIGER WOODS last night geared up to launch his bid for a 16th Major by hailing US Open venue Winged Foot as tough as Carnoustie.
The American admitted the Open venue in Angus is one of his top three toughest courses, alongside Oakmont and this week’s track in New York.
Woods is chasing sporting history and Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 Majors but, having watched Serena Williams fail in her latest bid to win a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles title at the US Open last week, he knows the pitfalls.
He said: “Winged Foot is right up there next to Oakmont and Carnoustie when it comes to sheer difficulty.
“Those three courses can host Major championships without ever doing anything to them.
“It gets harder to win as we all age. When you’re in your prime, your peak years, you have to take advantage of those opportunities so when you get to the all-time marks, you have the opportunity.
“Whether it’s Rafa or Fed or Serena, they’ve been so consistent and so dominant for such a long period of time, that’s how you can have those all-time marks. Consistency over a long period of time is the hallmark of those records.”
Woods captured the US Open title on three occasions – 2000, 2002 and 2008 – and is one of only 15 players in this week’s field to play in the last national championship at Winged Foot in 2006.
But he revealed he had not fully grieved for his father when he missed the cut 14 years ago, having returned to action following a nine-week lay-off after the death of dad Earl.
He added: “When I didn’t win the Masters that year, that was really tough to take because that was the last event my dad was ever going to watch me play. He passed not too long after that.
“I was not prepared to play and was still dealing with the death of my dad.”
Consistency over a long period of time is the hallmark of those records TIGER WOODS ON CHASE TO MAKE HISTORY IN MAJORS