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SPORTS Wednesday 18 July 2018

Woods says British Open becomes best shot at a major

By DOUG FERGUSON be long to play on a links- ball in play. Even hitting
AP Golf Writer style golf course,” Woods sometimes 4- and 5-irons,
CARNOUSTIE, Scotland (AP) said. “You get to places like they’ve been running 50,
— Tiger Woods doesn’t feel Augusta National, where 60 yards. It’s going to be an
as old at the oldest cham- it’s just a big ballpark, and interesting test to see which
pionship in golf. the golf course outgrows clubs we’re going to be us-
Back at the British Open for you, unfortunately. That’s ing off the tees, and a lot
the first time in three years, just the way it goes. But a of it is dependent on which
Woods broke from his tradi- links-style golf course, you way the wind blows.”
tion on Tuesday morning. can roll the ball. Distance Woods had a 2-iron built for
Instead of being among becomes a moot point.” him specifically for the Brit-
the first on the tee for prac- That said, distance is ev- ish Open, and he wonders
tice, he didn’t show up at erything at Carnoustie this how much he’ll even use
Carnoustie until his news year, which Woods dis- it. That has been too much
conference just before covered when he arrived club off the tee. Instead, Tiger Woods of the United States walks the 3rd hols during a
lunch. Then, he played nine Sunday. How far the ball most of his shots are with a practice round for the 147th British Open Golf championships
holes with Masters champi- travels in the warm, dry air 3-iron or 4-iron. in Carnoustie, Scotland, Tuesday, July 17, 2018. The Open Golf
on Patrick Reed and Bryson is not the issue. It’s how far Reed was familiar with con- championships starts Thursday.
DeChambeau. it travels once it gets on the ditions the year Woods won Associated Press
This was not a case of a baked turf. Dustin Johnson at Hoylake, even though hot, and Reed was in rain up there, and it was 308,”
42-year-old needing his discovered that when he he was only 15. Reed won pants because he didn’t Reed said. “And I was just
rest. Entering the year hav- arrived on Saturday and the Junior British Open that like wearing shorts. like, ‘Wow, I just hit a drive
ing not played any major reached the 499-yard 18th summer at Heswall, not far “I’ll never forget hitting the over 300 yards.’ And now
since the end of 2015 and hole, with a stiff breeze at from Royal Liverpool. It was first tee shot and being as I’m hitting 2-irons over
the start of three back sur- his back and fairways run- not only dry but extremely young as I was, getting 360.”q
geries, Woods has been ning only slightly slower
feeling better as 2018 than they did on the week-
has gone on. And there’s end at Shinnecock Hills.
something about links golf He hit driver into the burn.
that inspires him. The next day, his drive was
“It’s my favorite type of golf a few yards short of the
to play,” Woods said. “I burn. “I hit some irons, and
love playing here, this type depending on the wind,
of links golf, or a style of I’ll probably hit anywhere
links golf down on the Aus- from ... I’ve hit 3-wood,
sie sand belt ... because it 3-iron and 4-iron off the
is creative. We’re not go- tee,” Johnson said. “I like
ing to get the most perfect all of them.”
bounces. And I think that’s With the wind at his back
the fun challenge of it.” on the 513-yard 14th hole,
He made his links debut at Johnson hit 3-iron and
Carnoustie in 1995 as an wedge. One thing hasn’t
amateur at the Scottish changed about links golf —
Open, a week before his it’s best to keep the ball out
British Open debut at St. of the pot bunkers, which
Andrews. He hasn’t con- effectively are a one-shot
tended on the back nine in penalty. The question for
the previous Opens at Car- so many players is whether
noustie, in 1999 and 2007, that means going down to
though he wasn’t far from as little as a 7-iron off the
a playoff. Might this be his tee (such as the 350-yard
best shot at winning anoth- third hole) or smashing driv-
er major? “Not to be smart, er over all the trouble.
but it is the next major I’m Johnson figures he’ll hit driv-
playing,” Woods said with er on half of the holes. U.S.
a laugh. Open champion Brooks
But over time, he thinks it Koepka might hit as many
might be his best chance as nine drivers.
because of history. Woods The conditions are as brittle
recalls 53-year-old Greg as Muirfield in 2013, though
Norman playing in the fi- most comparisons are with
nal group at Royal Birkdale Hoylake in 2006, when
in 2008, a major Woods Woods won the Open for
missed because of knee the second straight time
surgery. The following year, by hitting driver only one
Woods missed the cut for time all week. “There’s not
the first time at the British a lot of opportunities to
Open when 59-year-old hit the driver just because
Tom Watson was one putt the ball is going to be roll-
away from winning at Turn- ing 80 yards,” Woods said.
berry. “You don’t have to “It’s just hard to keep the