Tiger Woods is in a unique dilemma. To play more or not to, that’s the question the 15-time Major champion hasn’t found an answer to. Not yet. The 48-year-old wished to play once a month this year. But that has effectively been only one major a month. The risk, Woods explains, is that without enough competitive golf, his performances at the major are falling below his own expectations. But the former world no.1 also has to consider how his body will react to more pressure.
Tiger Woods opened with 4-over at Pinehurst No.2. Speaking to the media after the round, the three-time U.S. Open champion elaborated, “I’m physically getting better as the year has gone on. I just haven’t been able to play as much because I just don’t want to hurt myself pre, then I won’t be able to play in the major championships.”
Woods earlier admitted his body doesn’t move the way he wants it to. Meaning, that his ankle is locked, which forces him to take a different posture while swinging – mostly off the tee – and pushes the pain down to his back. A few months back, when asked where it hurt the most, Woods joked, ‘Everywhere’. The recovery time after a tournament compels the 82-time PGA Tour winner to take more time off than he would have preferred to. Woods added, “It’s pick your poison, right? Play a lot with the potential of not playing, or not playing and fight being not as sharp.”
Woods’s opening round included six bogeys. Of course, getting a square instead of a circle doesn’t hurt too much at Pinehurst No.2. But it’s taking a bogey when he could’ve saved par that hurts in the long run. The 48-year-old missed the cut at the PGA Championship and finished 60th at the Masters, the last among those to make the cut.