Tiger Woods Prepares for the Open with 18-Hole Practice Round

Tiger Woods, the fifteen-time major champion, began his preparations for the 152nd Open Championship with an 18-hole practice round at Royal Troon Golf Club on Sunday.

Woods, who has won the Open Championship three times, focused much of his practice on chipping and putting, as well as working on escaping the deep pot bunkers that surround the greens on the renowned links course. He looked strong following an overnight flight from Florida.

While Tony Finau, Lucas Glover, and Jason Day played in the group ahead of him, Woods chose to walk the course alone with his caddie, Lance Bennett. Justin Thomas, who had played practice rounds with Woods at the season’s first three majors, was competing in the final round of the Genesis Scottish Open on Sunday.

This tournament marks Woods’ first appearance at Royal Troon since he tied for ninth in the 2004 Open Championship. He missed the 2016 tournament due to a back injury.

At 48 years old, Woods has faced challenges in recent majors, missing the cut or withdrawing in five of his last six starts. At the Masters in April, he finished 60th, last among players who made the cut, with a 72-hole total of 16-over 304, marking his worst 72-hole score in a professional event.

During the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, Woods recorded multiple triple bogeys for the first time in his 1,344-round PGA Tour career, missing the cut with a 36-hole total of 7-over 149. At the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 in June, Woods shot a 3-over 73 in the second round, finishing with a 36-hole total of 7-over 147, missing the cut by two strokes. He participated in the U.S. Open on a special exemption from the United States Golf Association.

Reflecting on his recent performances, Woods said, “Well, it’s one of those things where in order to win a golf tournament, you have to make the cut. I can’t win the tournament from where I’m at, so it certainly is frustrating. I thought I played well enough to be up there in contention. It just didn’t work out.”

This season, Woods has played in only four official PGA Tour events and indicated in June that The Open would be his last competitive tournament for the year.

“I’ve only got one more tournament this season,” Woods said. “Even if I win the British Open, I don’t think I’ll be in the [FedEx Cup] playoffs. Just one more event and then I’ll come back whenever I come back.”