‘Woods will try but those he inspired will triumph at Troon’

As Tiger Woods ascended the slope from the seventh green, he appeared as a great, iconic figure arriving on one of golf’s most famous stages—the teeing ground for the hole known as the ‘Postage Stamp.’ Despite his uneasiness from a reconstructed right foot and the stiffness from a surgically fused back, Tiger Woods still carries an undeniable aura. Even on a quiet Sunday practice round with his caddie Lance Bennett before a major week, his presence draws the largest gallery. Fans are keen to catch a glimpse of him shaking off the effects of his flight from Florida to the South Ayrshire coast, where he will compete in the 152nd Open at Royal Troon.

This will be Woods’ 23rd Open and 95th major tournament. Despite the challenges he faces, he insists he can contend, drawing crowds eager to watch the 48-year-old legend. There is still magic in the hands that have held 15 major trophies. At Troon’s renowned eighth hole, he effortlessly swings, sending a 123-yard wedge shot to land three feet from the pin, followed by a casual birdie putt. This contrasts starkly with his 1997 Open debut, where he suffered a triple-bogey six on the same hole.

Woods returns with three Open victories, though some, like Colin Montgomerie, speculate this could be his last. At the ninth hole, he loses a ball in the rough, showcasing the course’s challenging conditions. Meanwhile, Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns search for an errant drive on the par-five 16th. Scheffler, the current Masters champion and a dominant force in world golf, faces the unpredictable nature of links golf. Despite his recent struggles at Pinehurst, he remains a top contender.

Rory McIlroy, ranked just behind Scheffler, arrives at Troon hoping to end a decade-long major drought. He led the US Open at Pinehurst until late bogeys handed victory to Bryson DeChambeau. McIlroy’s resilience will be tested again at Troon, especially with his recent struggles adjusting to links greens. The local favorite, Bob MacIntyre, fresh off a Scottish Open win, poses a significant challenge, now ranked 16th in the world.

Tommy Fleetwood, known for his ball-striking prowess, aims for his first major victory, having been a consistent top-10 finisher. Shane Lowry, a former Open champion, is also in form and could contend on Troon’s challenging course. Xander Schauffele, a previous Scottish Open winner, along with DeChambeau, remains a significant threat.

Collin Morikawa, the 2021 Open champion, consistently features on major leaderboards. His goal will be to maintain his performance through all four rounds. From the LIV circuit, Bryson DeChambeau and Tyrrell Hatton, who recently finished third behind Sergio Garcia, are notable contenders. Cameron Smith, the 2022 Open champion, and Jon Rahm, though winless since the 2023 Masters, also pose threats.

Men’s professional golf is divided between the established tours and the breakaway LIV Tour. Woods now focuses on shaping the future of the game, adding to his legacy. While he will compete earnestly at Troon, the spotlight will be on the new generation he inspired—Scheffler, McIlroy, DeChambeau, Schauffele, Fleetwood, and MacIntyre—as they vie for the oldest and most prestigious trophy in golf.