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Golf

Tiger at Turnberry a Page-Turner

Posted Jul 14, 2009 7:03PM By Greg Couch (RSS feed)

Filed Under: British Open, PGA

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Tiger WoodsThe enemy this time is rain. Rain and wind and then sun followed by a little cold. Tall grass, weeds. Golf isn't a manicured game in Scotland. So Tiger Woods' enemy at the British Open, which starts Thursday at Turnberry, isn't the field of players, but just a big, open field, if that makes any sense.

And that's what he has been preparing for. See rain, run out and play.

"I just fell in love with using the ground as a friend, as an ally," he said, talking about his British experiences. "We don't get to do that in the States.

"Everything's up in the air. But here it's different. You hit a shot from 150 yards, or whatever it is, and you've got so many options of how you can play it. Back home in the States, we play pretty much everything up in the air."

Woods lives for this. He had never played at Turnberry before this week's practice rounds, but that's OK. This is a chance for the greatest golfer in the world to test his freaky talents. It's supposed to rain every day at the tournament, but that's nothing new. This is true: I have packed shorts, suntan lotion, a heavy sweater and knit hat. That should get me through Thursday morning. Maybe.

Woods needs this win, and that's his fault, really. You set the bar this high, inches from perfection, and then you have to keep jumping over it, again and again, even with a broken leg and torn ligaments. And then, even shortly after having them surgically repaired.

When we first saw Woods years ago, he was winning the Masters, and his father was saying he would change the world. He was on Oprah, who was calling him America's child.

Now, he hasn't won a major in 13 months. So with critics, maybe for the first time, Woods is on the defensive, a strange place for an icon with a mania named after him.

"To sit here and say I was going to have three wins halfway through the year ... I think anyone who looked at my situation would say, [I was] probably reaching a little bit," Woods said Tuesday at Turnberry. "I haven't won a major, but I've come close. I've put myself in position to win the first two majors, but just haven't done it."

Woods needs this win, and that's his fault, really. You set the bar this high, inches from perfection, and then you have to keep jumping over it, again and again, even with a broken leg and torn ligaments.Yes, Woods keeps touting his top-10 finishes since his return this year, and now he has won three times on the regular tour since returning from his surgery. It all sounds awfully Mickelson-y to me, taking pride in top 10s and minors.

Majors. That's the bar Woods has set for himself. That's all that really matters now, and he was in contention at the Masters, but didn't win. And it happened again at the U.S. Open last month. Woods can use a win here at the British. Golf can use one from him, too.

The game's star power keeps slipping. And Phil Mickelson decided not to come to the British, helping his wife, and also his mom, go through cancer treatments.

Woods hadn't played Turnberry before his practice rounds this week, and that's going to be a huge disadvantage against the European players. Truth is, most of the Americans have little or no experience there, either.

Woods has said that the course is harder than people think, and has reportedly carried around the same course map that any first-timer would carry, trying to learn the place.

Oddmakers don't seem too concerned with Woods' major losses lately, instilling him as the 2-to-1 favorite, amazing odds for golf. Sergio Garcia is next at 20-to-1.

Meanwhile, two-time defending champ Padraig Harrington has lost his swing somehow, deciding to tinker too much with a good thing. So I'm going to have to go with Woods, too, going with the favorite in a tournament that produces too many surprises. I think Woods has some proving to do again, but not taking him means you have to pick someone else. There is no one else to have faith in, particularly Garcia.

Oh can Woods use this win. Last thing he wants is to go into the PGA Championship with his last chance at a major until next year's Masters. By then, he would be closing in on two years between Tiger titles. Major titles.

Another major without a win, and the questions will pop up everywhere. A win, and he turns the conversation back to greatness and away from slumps, injuries and, yes, Jim Brown's criticisms.

Beat the rain, the wind, the cold, and he's back to being Tiger again.

Latest British Open Photos

    HONG KONG July 15, 2009 (AFP) - AFP photo coverage advisory Tel: (852) 2829 6206 Duty editor: Laurent --ASIA-- URUMQI, China: Situation as develops PAKISTAN: Continued military operation against Taliban militants AFGHANISTAN: US military troop increase as available TOKYO: Political situation as develops JAKARTA: Political developments following vote in presidential elections SYDNEY: Visit by former US vice-president Al Gore --MIDEAST-- BAGHDAD: Situation as develops TEHRAN: Developments as available SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt: Two-day Non-Aligned Movement summit begins ABU DHABI: US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner visits BEIRUT: Russia's deputy foreign minister and special envoy for the Middle East peace process, Alexander Sultanov, visits --EUROPE-- THE HAGUE: Former Liberian president Charles Taylor stands trial STRASBOURG: The new European parliament holds the first plenary session of its five-year term --AFRICA-- --AMERICAS-- HONDURAS: Situation following coup d'etat PERU: Second hearing of ex-president Alberto Fujimoris trial on corruption charges COSTA RICA: Visit of Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli BUENOS AIRES: South American health ministers meet to discuss swine flu WASHINGTON: Hearings for Sonia Sotomayor to be an associate judge of the US Supreme Court WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivers a foreign policy address KENNEDY SPACE CENTER: Launch of US space shuttle Endeavour, as develops HAWAII: Visit by Japanese Emperor Akihito --SPORTS-- FIELD HOCKEY: Women's Champions Trophy hockey in Sydney CYCLING: Tour de France GOLF: Build-up to the British Open TENNIS: ATP at Bastad and Stuttgart; WTA at Palermo and Prague Your opinion matters - Online customer satisfaction survey Click here to win one of 50 copies of the AFP Yearbook for 2009. http://www.sphinxonline.net/afpmarketing/photo2008/start.htm (Photo credit should read AFP/AFP/Getty Images)

    AFP/Getty Images

    Japanese golfer Ryo Ishikawa prepares to putt on the green of the 9th hole during a practice round, on July 14, 2009, ahead of the 138th British Open Championship at Turnberry Golf Course in south west Scotland, which begins July 16. AFP PHOTO/Peter Muhly (Photo credit should read PETER MUHLY/AFP/Getty Images)

    AFP/Getty Images

    Japanese golfer Ryo Ishikawa prepares to putt on the green of the 9th hole during a practice round, on July 14, 2009, ahead of the 138th British Open Championship at Turnberry Golf Course in south west Scotland, which begins July 16. AFP PHOTO/Peter Muhly (Photo credit should read PETER MUHLY/AFP/Getty Images)

    AFP/Getty Images

    Japanese golfer Ryo Ishikawa plays out of the rough on the 9th hole during a practice round, on July 14, 2009, ahead of the 138th British Open Championship at Turnberry Golf Course in south west Scotland, which begins July 16. AFP PHOTO/Peter Muhly (Photo credit should read PETER MUHLY/AFP/Getty Images)

    AFP/Getty Images

    Kenny Perry of the United States gestures during a press conference during practice for the British Open Golf championship, at the Turnberry golf course, Scotland, Tuesday, July 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Rebecca Naden, PA) ** UNITED KINGDOM OUT NO SALES NO ARCHIVE **

    AP

    Ryo Ishikawa of Japan takes a shot during practice for the British Open Golf championship, at the Turnberry golf course, Scotland, Tuesday, July 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

    AP

    Ryo Ishikawa of Japan prepares a shot during practice for the British Open Golf championship, at the Turnberry golf course, Scotland, Tuesday, July 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

    AP

    Padraig Harrington of Ireland, right, signs autographs for fans during practice for the British Open Golf championship, at the Turnberry golf course, Scotland, Tuesday, July 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

    AP

    Padraig Harrington of Ireland putts on the 15th green, as Ailsa Craig Island is seen in the background, during practice for the British Open Golf championship, at the Turnberry golf course, Scotland, Tuesday, July 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

    AP

    Ryo Ishikawa of Japan takes a shot from the 16th tee during practice for the British Open Golf championship, at the Turnberry golf course, Scotland, Tuesday, July 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

    AP

Tags: padraig+harrington, Phil+Mickelson, Sergio+Garcia, Tiger+Woods

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