Tuesday At The Open: Tiger Talks
Tuesday At The Open: Tiger Talks
Several players suggest the Old Course is shaping up to provide a complete test. Plus, Quotables, weather and the draw, a merch report and Reads.
The Old Course teaches us something new every day. Unbeknownst to me and about every other fan of golf history, it’s a bit excessive now to believe that a win in The Open here makes your career a little more memorable and satisfying.
Bobby Jones first suggested this audacious notion and Jack Nicklaus famously channeled the feeling in his Claret Jug acceptance speech upon winning here.
“If you’re going to be a player people will remember, you have to win the Open at St. Andrews,” Nicklaus said on more than one occasion, including yesterday when he graciously stopped by the media center.
The topic came up a few times during today’s press session and while no one dared to suggest the legends were patting themselves on the back, between the remarks of writers and some players, I’ve been shocked to hear the logic questioned the logic. When all the statement really amounts to is the ultimate compliment of the Old Course and what it has meant to the sport.
“I don't know if a golfer's career isn't complete if you don't, but I think it's the holy grail of our sport,” Rory McIlroy said in response to a question Tuesday. “Not a lot of people are going to get that opportunity to achieve that, but that's what winning an Open at St Andrews is. It's one of the highest achievements that you can have in golf.”
He elaborated.
“There's a lot of great players that have won Opens and maybe not had won Opens at St Andrews, so I think it's unfair to say that a golfer's career isn't complete without that. But it's certainly up there with one of the greatest things you can do in our game.”
Jon Rahm offered his take.
“I've heard multiple champions say it. I think it was Jack and Tiger both accomplished it. You can't really call yourself a great player unless you win The Open at St Andrews, which is a very selective group to say. I think it's a bit of an exaggeration, but I do know what they mean. And it can almost put your career to another level just because how great of a venue this one is. Mainly history. That's what I would say.”
As for Woods, who is trying to win a third Open here, McIlroy suggested the course is working in his favor.
“It's going to be a game of chess this week, and no one's been better at playing that sort of chess game on a golf course than Tiger over the last 20 years.”
Woods once again played a practice round Tuesday and has looked healthier and increasingly energized each day. The course conditions have lined up in his favor, with all players who came into the press center confirming the Old will emphasize precision, patience and experience.
After his press conference, I asked Tiger if this is the firmest he’s ever seen the Old Course. He pondered, looked up briefly to recount his five previous appearances and said, “Yes…here. Not in the Open.”
He smiled. “Hoylake’s still the firmest.”
Tiger: “It feels more historic”
Fresh faced, engaged and running late when his morning back nine practice took nearly three hours, Woods expanded on a wide range of topics. With The 150th as the focus, he repeatedly expressed gratitude at being here, seeing other greats and made a strong proclamation about the magnitude of this one.
The highlights (I posted his long and pretty incredible LIV defector takedown at the blog).
On the chance of an older player winning. “It just takes a lot of knowledge and understanding of how to play this type of golf. And with the fairways being fast and firm, it allows players who are older to run the ball out there and have a chance.
On the 150th: “It feels more historic than it normally has…it's hard to believe, it's been 150 years we've played this tournament. And it's incredible, the history behind it, the champions that have won here. As I said, it's hard to believe it's more historic, but it really is. It does feel like that. This does feel like it's the biggest Open Championship we've ever had.”
On the golf course, part 1: “The fairways, I think right now, are faster than the greens. So it's funny, when you hit some of the chip shots and some of the bump-and-runs, you have to allow more speed early, then play for breaks when they hit the green. Again, with the amount of slope that's on these greens, if they get them too fast, it's unplayable when the wind gets up. We saw that when Louis won. We had a wind-out. We don't want that to happen. And it's understandable why they're a little bit on the slower side.”
On his focus in practice: “I'm just trying to get used to the speed of the fairways and getting used to hitting the ball down and also giving more wide berth on shots, allowing for more drift on the wind. The ball just gets eaten up here when you play on links courses and seaside courses. The air is heavier, and you've just got to give it more room. And sometimes it's just hard to see that and hard to understand. You've got to give it a little more 30 yards because obviously it's going to bounce, it's going to roll and then it's going to roll out another 40 yards once it lands. And that's just with a 7-iron in your hand.
On Tuesday’s early practice in high winds: “It was good to play in this much wind because I know the forecast isn't for this much wind for the rest of the week, but it was good to get my mind opened up for these type of golf shots that potentially I'm going to have to play.
On Greg Norman’s non-invitation this week: “Greg has done some things that I don't think is in the best interest of our game, and we're coming back to probably the most historic and traditional place in our sport. I believe it's the right thing.”
On crossing Swilcan Bridge: “I tell you what, honestly, now I've got to be a little more careful with spikes on on that bridge. I don't quite have the agility that I used to. I almost ate it today.”
On whether this is it for him at St Andrews. Who knows? I don't know, if it is that long, whether I will be able to physically compete at this level by then. It's also one of the reasons why I wanted to play in this championship. I don't know what my career is going to be like.
On staying next to the course: “It's one of the neat things about coming out here. I stay at the Old Course Hotel, and I've gone out and putted a lot at 9:00 at night. I just go out to one of the greens, and I just putt.”
On the kids today. “The history of the game is certainly something that I've taken to heart. I think it's a very important part of understanding the development of our game, where we've come from, especially for me, for a person who's had to struggle at times for admittance into clubhouses or onto golf courses. So I understand it from a different historical side too as well. But you have to appreciate everything about this game, how it's developed, and the people who have paved the way to allow us to play in these events, who created the energy behind it.”
Quotable
Rory McIlroy on his Celebration of Champions playing partner Lee Trevino. “I never knew, like, he literally walks into the shot, sets up for a cut, and then walks all the way around to setting up for a draw, and then he makes his swing, but he's talking at the same time. He's one of a kind.”
McIlroy on how much more strategic the course is this week versus a fall Alfred Dunhill. “If you hit a lot of drivers, you may get close to some of these greens, and it would be advantageous to lay back and give yourself fuller, fuller wedge shots into some of these greens.”
Jon Rahm on whether he’s been able to spend time walking around St Andrews. “When you walk around with logos on your shirt you're pretty recognizable already. So I wish I could. There's a couple of stores -- bookstores, golf history books -- that I would love to go into and possibly buy and purchase a few. But we drove by it yesterday and there were so many people, I was not going to deal with that. I would love to be able to go. Hopefully I can come back at some point and go in and at least see it.”
Will Zalatoris on learning the Old Course: “Being able to spend essentially the last four days out here, kind of game plan, if the wind is generally coming from either the south to the west has been very helpful. I've gotten some help from a few local friends. It's been obviously a treat, but also at the same time, I don't think I've written more in my yardage book over the last four days than I think I have in my entire career.”
Justin Thomas on missing the Genesis Scottish Open cut: “Probably the most happy I've ever been to miss a cut so I could come here early and truly get ready.”
Thomas on the Road hole: “Trying to explain that hole and that tee shot to my fiancé was a little bit difficult. So I had to take her out there myself. I'm like, No, you hit it over the hotel. It's like, Okay, but not really. I'm like, Oh, no, really. You have to hit it over this hotel.”
Thomas on the Road hole bunker: “It's not necessarily any more difficult than other pot bunkers out here. I mean, it is in the grand scheme of things, but it's the location of it and the placement of it and the way that the green sits and just how it swallows golf balls. Anything that's kind of around it that's running, it's just going to go right into it. It's one of those that if that bunker wasn't there, that hole, it would probably play I'd say half a shot to three-quarters of a shot easier because you just would be able to run it up there short left of the green or onto the green and one or two putt for birdie or par and move on to the 18th hole. But because it's there, it just totally changes your mindset of how and where you're going to hit your second shot kind of thing.”
Jordan Spieth on re-acclimating with the Old Course after missing the playoff by one stroke in 2015: “You're not able to use the greens books from back then, so you're not even allowed to copy notes unless they're your own notes that you've gotten this time around. If you've gotten them not from the greens book, but instead of don't miss here to this pin, then you can obviously use that information…So I went out with Cameron and Michael yesterday evening late and tried to get out and scout a lot because last week at the Scottish was the most unprepared I've ever been for a tournament, coming from Tuesday night for the JP McManus Pro-Am playing nine holes Wednesday and seeing the back nine for the first time on a Thursday morning on a links course is about as unprepared as I can get. I felt like I missed a few shots out there, just missing in the wrong spots, just not totally recognizing where to go, and I didn't want it to happen this week. I didn't remember a ton of the subtleties. The shapes of the hole, sure, but when they put the pin on 5, 85 yards from the previous day's pin, you've got to get some information on where those misses are and how different that is.”
Spieth on the mindset to win an Open: “It's a tournament also where you don't have to be out in front to win. It's one where, if you can post a score -- sometimes it's really difficult if you're not freely hitting shots at your targets and trying to play a little protective. Links golf can eat you up if that's the case. I've seen both sides of that. So I think patience is the number one word for me psychologically coming in. It's let it all come to me. Don't go and try to force birdies. Wait for the downwind holes where you get some wedges or the par-5s, and then try to be under-par when you reach the 18th tee box each day.”
Jordan Spieth on the Open crowds: “I really enjoy the crowds over here. They're the most educated fans in all of golf. They understand when sometimes you have a pitching wedge in your hand and 30 feet's a really good shot. And they also understand when you're trying to get something closer when it wasn't so difficult. They just seem to be very educated, and it's always a fantastic.”
Weather And The Draw
The draw is out and you can view the groupings for Thursday and Friday here.
Standout groupings:
Scotland’s Paul Lawrie is out first at 6:35 am Thursday.
Cameron Tringale gets a front row seat to a grouping with John Daly and Bryson Dechambeau. 😳
The defending Old Course champion, Zach Johnson, goes out with Billy Horschel and Corey Conners at 8:36 am Thursday.
The first star group involves Shane Lowry, Justin Thomas and Viktor Hovland out at 10:09.
Tiger Woods, Matthew Fitzpatrick and Max Homa tee of at 2:59 pm Thursday, followed by Jordan Spieth, Jon Rahm and Harold Varner.
Last out at 4:16 are Lars Van Meijel, Jack Floydd and Ronan Mullarney.
The latest forecast for those looking for a draw bias has the early advantage going to early-late. Key word: early. Note the prevailing breeze turning to some decent wind by the afternoon Thursday and a possible switch in direction Friday. The weekend looks more uncertain but should be nice with no serious weather issues:
Jack Nicklaus Receives His Honorary Citizenship
Golfweek’s Adam Schupak reports on Jack Nicklaus’ speech after becoming an honorary citizen of St Andrews. The ceremony was held at Younger Hall, the same venue where Bobby Jones was honored. (After, Jones was serenaded as he left the hall in his cart to the as the citizens sang “Will Ye No Come Back Again.” 😭)
You can watch the entire proceeding here or go right to the Nicklaus speech.
Nicklaus was honored in a procession following the ceremony: