Tiger Woods to Play US Open?
The Big Cat is eyeing another comeback, but should he save his return for golf’s toughest test?
This week, Notah Begay reported that Tiger Woods is looking at some
time after The Players Championship to return, and playing the US Open is a “definite possibility”.
Tiger last played in Dubai in February, where he reinjured his back after scheduling himself to play four times in five weeks. He only got through three rounds before the injury, and the impressive performance Tiger had in the Bahamas in December seems like it happened five years ago.
If Tiger is going to attempt to come back from this injury, he needs to plan a schedule of courses where he can ease his game into shape. With the US Open at Erin Hills for the first time, Tiger doesn’t know the course, and it has a reputation of being outrageously difficult. It’s also 7800 yards. At this point, it is highly likely that Tiger’s game will be outlined with chalk by the end of the week. He is going to need at least one practice event before taking on Erin Hills.
Based on his rumoured timeline, there are several courses Tiger could target in the four weeks between The Players and The US Open.
AT&T Byron Nelson
This is a course Tiger hasn’t played in over 10 years, but it is a tournament he has won before. That win was in 1997, so there’s that, but it is at TPC Four Seasons, a favourable course that yields many birdies and could facilitate a smooth transition for Big Cat to competitive golf. This course will not prepare Tiger for Erin Hills, but it could be the first step. It’s the Large Feline, though, so don’t expect him to play.
Dean and Deluca Invitational
Seriously. This is what Colonial has been called for the last few years. I think Tiger should skip it on principle.
It’s been so long since Tiger last played this tournament that the last time he did, he played two groups behind Ben Hogan. Similar to his absence from the Nelson tournament, Tiger has always been very particular about his schedule with excluding certain tournaments every year. Since his game has declined, Tiger has not qualified to play in WGC events, and the other high profile events he plays in are on difficult courses where he may struggle to find his game.
Colonial is a old style golf course where the premium is on shot shaping, accuracy and placement rather than hitting it as high and as far as you can. This would be a good warm up for Baldrick, but again, the tournament isn’t in his repertoire.
The Memorial
This is our first serious contender. Tiger has won this tournament five times, including a three-peat from 1999–2001. Muirfield Village is generously wide off the tee, requires precision iron play and has arguably the fastest greens on tour. This would be a great test for Tiger’s game before the US Open, at a course he has played very well on in the past. There is, however, one caveat to this.
Tiger may or may not have shot 85 last time he played there.
Even with the five wins and a number of good memories, that 85 has to be somewhat near the top of his mind given his mental struggles of late.
The alleged 85 aside, Memorial makes the most sense. If Tiger is going to play before the US Open, this is by far the most likely place for him to tee it up, but it’s also the most challenging.
Fedex St. Jude
It’s the week before The Open, at a course he’s never played, in a humid climate where Big Cat will sweat through all his clothes in about four seconds.
No chance.
Given that Tiger is practicing and playing at his home in Jupiter, it’s close to a given that we will see him play golf this year. If I were advising him, I would strongly suggest he continues to practice until after the US Open. Then he could return at his tournament, Quicken Loans National, in late June. The US Open is often considered the most difficult, physically demanding tournament in golf, and given Tiger’s physical and mental state, he needs to play healthy, reasonable golf before he competes in a major. I have a feeling he may be pushing himself to play because this is the second last year of his 10 year exemption from winning the 2008 Open.
I guess only he can make the call.
Austin is The Ocho’s main golf contributor. He also writes about basketball and guest hosts The Ocho Podcast with his brother Riley when Aaron has something better to do. Follow Austin on Twitter at @austevans24, and check out jolo golf on Facebook.
