In pics: Tiger Woods starts practice early at the Royal Troon course ahead of The Open Championship
Tiger Woods has arrived at Royal Troon Golf Course in Scotland for the Open Championship 2024. On Monday, July 15 he was also spotted practicing ahead of the final major of the season.
Woods is a three-time winner at the Open Championship and is returning to the event after skipping it last year. This will be his fifth and most probably the final official start of the season.
On Monday Woods was spotted at the Royal Troon Golf Course, which is hosting the Open Championship for the first time since 2016. The golf veteran was sporting a sky blue shirt with a white half sweater and black trousers. This was his second day of practice for the championship after arriving on Sunday, July 14.
The 15-time major champion was accompanied by his close friend Justin Thomas. The two-time major champion is also going through a lean phase as he hasn't won a title since the PGA Championship 2022.
Woods has competed in four events this season including the three majors. He withdrew in the middle of the Genesis Invitational due to flu but made the record 24th consecutive cut at the Masters Tournament. However, he missed the cut at both the PGA Championship as well as the US Open.
The 48-year-old golfer has been winless since the 2020 Zozo Championship. However, he has faced serious injuries in between, including a life-threatening one in February 2021. Last year, he underwent subtalar fusion surgery to treat his right ankle.
Woods returned to action at the Hero World Challenge last year and played 72 holes for the first time in a long while. Additionally, he was able to walk without a limp for the first time since the accident. His fans will be hoping that he ends the title drought soon. For the uninitiated, he needs just win to get past Sam Snead to become the winningest player on the PGA Tour.
How has Tiger Woods performed at the Open Championship in the past?
Tiger Woods has made 22 appearances at the Open Championship so far and has missed just four cuts. He has achieved ten top-ten finishes, three of which resulted in wins. His first win came in 2000 and then registered back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006.
Here's a look at Woods' performance at the Open Championship:
- 1995: T68
- 1996: T22
- 1997: T24
- 1998: 3
- 1999: T7
- 2000: 1
- 2001: T25
- 2002: T28
- 2003: T4
- 2004: T9
- 2005: 1
- 2006: 1
- 2007: T12
- 2009: CUT
- 2010: T23
- 2012: T3
- 2013: T6
- 2014: 69
- 2015: CUT
- 2018: T6
- 2019: CUT
- 2022: CUT