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Tiger Woods explains why The Open will play into his hands as he bids for 16th Major


Tiger Woods has insisted “the art of links golf” allows “older players” like him to compete at the Open.

The American superstar finally won his 15th Major title at the Masters after an 11-year wait.

But he said before teeing off at Carnoustie last year that the Open offered his best chance to win a Major – and he led on the back nine before finishing tied sixth.

Now with cool weather and winds forecast at the first Open at Royal Portrush since 1951, the 43-year-old admitted his fused back needed special preparation to play.

Woods said: “It’s just part of, unfortunately, dealing with the procedures I’ve had, and being a little bit older. It just doesn’t move quite as fast when it’s a little bit cooler.

Woods practising ahead of The 148th Open Championship

“But the great thing is playing in an Open Championship, you can do it. Look what Tom (Watson) did at Turnberry, what Greg (Norman) did at Birkdale.

“The golf course is fast enough, even if you don’t have the speed to carry the ball 20 yards anymore, you can still run the ball quite a bit out there.

“You just have to navigate the bunkers and navigate around the golf course. And that’s true, that’s understanding how to play an Open Championship.

“It allows the players that don’t hit the ball very far or carry the ball as far to run the golf ball out there. And plus, there is an art to playing links golf.

Woods reckons The Open represents an opportunity for the older players

“But being able to control it as best you possibly can in the air to control it on the ground allows the older players to have a chance to do well in The Open Championship.”

Woods said on the eve of the Masters that his game was ready but he has not played since the US Open. And he admitted: “It’s not quite as sharp as I’d like to have it right now.

“My touch around the greens is right where I need to have it. I still need to get the shape of the golf ball a little bit better than I am right now, especially with the weather coming in and the winds are going to be changing.

“I’m going to have to be able to cut the ball, draw the ball, hit at different heights and move it all around.

“Today it was a good range session. I need another one tomorrow. And hopefully that will be enough to be ready.”





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