Tiger Woods is all about majors and legacy, some extent he drove residence Tuesday in a pointy rebuke of Phil Mickelson and his help of a Saudi-funded golf enterprise that led to Lefty not defending his title on the PGA Championship.
Even as Woods resumes a exceptional return from a automobile crash 15 months in the past that just about led to his proper leg being amputated, the PGA Championship can’t escape the absence of Mickelson and hypothesis about who may join Greg Norman’s new Saudi-backed golf sequence.
Woods mentioned he has not tried to achieve out to Mickelson since his self-imposed hiatus from golf three months in the past, primarily due to his distinction of opinion on how golf needs to be run.
“I perceive totally different viewpoints, however I consider in legacies. I consider in main championships. I consider in large occasions, comparisons to historic figures of the previous,” Woods mentioned.
“There’s plenty of money out here,” he mentioned. “The tour is growing. But it’s just like any other sport — it’s like tennis — you have to go out there and earn it. You’ve got to go out there and play for it. We have the opportunity to go ahead and do it. It’s just not guaranteed up front.”
That was a reference to among the Public Investment Fund cash out of Saudi Arabia being provided to gamers to hitch Norman and his LIV Golf Investments. According to numerous reviews out of Britain, some high gamers had been being provided greater than the $120 million Woods has made in profession PGA Tour earnings.
Tiger Woods walks on the fourth fairway. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Mickelson confirmed his hand in two interviews revealed in February. He accused the PGA Tour of “obnoxious greed” whereas taking part in in Saudi Arabia, and extra incendiary feedback adopted when Alan Shipnuck revealed an excerpt of his unauthorized biography on Mickelson.
Mickelson mentioned the Saudis had been “scary mother-(expletives) to get involved with,” after which dismissed its human rights atrocities — such because the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi — by saying it was price it to realize to make adjustments on the PGA Tour.
He additionally mentioned he did not care if the Saudi league failed, so long as the tour made adjustments he wished.
Mickelson determined final Friday he wouldn’t play at Southern Hills, lacking out on an opportunity to be celebrated for his historic win final yr at Kiawah Island when at age 50 he grew to become golf’s oldest main champion.
Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. (File)
He is the primary PGA champion to not defend since Woods was recovering from knee surgical procedure in 2008 and skipped Oakland Hills.
“It’s always disappointing when the defending champion is not here,” Woods mentioned. “Phil has mentioned some issues that I feel plenty of us who’re dedicated to the tour and dedicated to the legacy of the tour have pushed again in opposition to, and he is taken some private time, and all of us perceive that. But I feel that a few of his views on how the tour may very well be run, needs to be run, been plenty of disagreement there.”
“He’s just taking his time and we all wish him the best when he comes back.”
Woods, in the meantime, is again and extra optimistic than he was a month in the past on the Masters. He mentioned those that are near him had been thrilled to see him stroll all 72 holes at Augusta National, his first time strolling whereas competing because the Feb. 23, 2021, accident in Los Angeles that shattered bones in his proper leg and ankle.
Tiger Woods waits to play on the second fairway in the course of the first spherical on the Masters golf event. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
All he may take into consideration the day after was a nasty placing week that led to a 78-78 weekend.
“I didn’t see it that way Monday,” he mentioned. “I was a little ticked I didn’t putt well, and felt like I was hitting it good enough and I wish I had the stamina.”
He mentioned the Monday after the Masters was a troublesome day of restoration, after which he went proper again to work making an attempt to realize power and endurance.
“It’s better than the last time I played a tournament, which is good,” Woods mentioned.
He is the defending PGA champion at Southern Hills, having received by two pictures in 2007 for his thirteenth of what’s now 15 majors. And he barely acknowledged the course after a restoration mission that introduced again a number of meandering creeks and returned the sides of the placing surfaces so that they funnel pictures away from the inexperienced.
The larger problem is the gamers he’s making an attempt to beat, which make up the strongest subject of the majors. Woods is 46, and Mickelson confirmed a yr in the past that age is simply a quantity. However, Mickelson had been taking part in a full schedule all alongside. Woods, together with his accidents, would look like restricted to the 4 majors this yr at most.
One assistance is the character of the stroll. Augusta National is among the many hardest in golf. Southern Hills incorporates a sharp drop from the primary and tenth tees and difficult climb on the finish of every 9. Otherwise, it is a comparatively light stroll.
“Figured the first mountain you climbed was Everest. That’s the steepest golf course you’re going to play and that was the first one you climbed, and climbed it,” Woods mentioned. “It’s going to get flatter and better.”
He nonetheless struggles on sure days. He mentioned it is by no means as simple as it would look.
“But I feel like I’m doing better,” he mentioned. “I’m having more days which are better, more positive.”
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
