Tiger Woods Is Back? 14-Time Major Champion Is ‘Pain Free’ Ahead of Comeback

Tiger Woods was coy about his pre-Open plans after competing in the JP McManus Pro-Am on Monday and Tuesday. After shooting 77-74 in the charity exhibition, Woods told reporters that he had a plan to play some links but would not elaborate on where. “I don’t want to tell you because I don’t want everyone coming down and watching us,” Woods said Tuesday at Adare Manor. A round of golf with Woods and Rory McIlroy can never stay secret for long, however, and on Thursday we learned that a round at Ballybunion was part of the itinerary after photos and videos of the pair of two-time FedExCup champs emerged on social media. Trips to Ireland have been part of Woods’ Open prep since he turned pro. Early in his career, he would play golf and go flyfishing in Ireland with Mark O’Meara and other veterans. On Woods’ first Ireland trip in 1999, Payne Stewart made a hole-in-one at Ballybunion during a round with Woods and O’Meara. “I’ve always loved coming to Ireland,” Woods said Tuesday. “We’ve had some great times.” Those rounds, of course, were also important preparation for the unique challenge that links presents. “I’ve come here on several occasions to not only get over the time zone but get used to links golf,” Woods said. “It is a different kind of game. I mean, it’s played on the ground and it’s totally different. Yardages are generally thrown out the window.” The Open will be Woods’ first start since withdrawing from the third round of the PGA Championship. He admitted that he skipped the U.S. Open to ensure he could participate in this Open, which is the 150th edition of golf’s oldest major and being played at the Home of Golf. Videos from his round at Ballybunion showed him riding in a cart, a rarity on the links of the British Isles. “The plan was to play the U.S. Open but physically I was not able to do that,” Woods said Tuesday. “I had some issues with my leg and it would have put this tournament in jeopardy. “This is a pretty historic Open that we are going to be playing. I’m lucky enough to be part of the past champions that have won there. … I don’t know when they are ever going to go back while I’m still able to play at a high level and I want to be able to give it at least one more run.” Two of Woods’ three wins in The Open have come at the Old Course. He won by eight shots in 2000 during the Tiger Slam and returned five years later for a five-shot win.

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PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Vijay Singh’s last PGA TOUR victory in 2008. His only win at The Honda Classic was in 1999, on a course that he couldn’t remember. And he arrived at PGA National a few days ago wondering if his game is still good enough for him to be competitive with the younger generation. So far, he’s got to like what he’s seeing. And he’ll have a shot Sunday at making history. Singh — who turned 56 on Feb. 22 — has a chance to become the oldest winner ever on the PGA TOUR. His round of 5-under 65 on Saturday put him at 6 under for the week, one shot behind leader Wyndham Clark. They’ll be in the final pairing Sunday. Singh has been a pro longer than the 25-year-old Clark has been alive. “It would be great,” Singh said when asked what a win would mean at his age. “I’ve worked pretty hard. I’m physically quite capable of doing it. Mentally, I’m going to go out there and see how my mind works. If I just don’t let anything interfere, I think I can do it.” There have been seven players to win on the PGA TOUR after their 50th birthday, the oldest Sam Snead at 52 years, 10 months, 8 days in the 1965 Greater Greensboro Open. Singh will be eight days removed from his 56th birthday Sunday. “He’s been one of the game’s best,” said Rickie Fowler, who was alone in fifth at 5 under following his round of 66. “He’s a ball-striker. He’s not as long as he used to be, but on this golf course you don’t necessarily have to be long. It’s about getting the ball in the fairway and hitting your lines and hitting numbers. You don’t necessarily have to go out and do anything special.” Singh, Keith Mitchell (70) and Kyeong-Hoon Lee (68) are all one shot off Clark’s lead. Clark started in sizzling fashion, opening with five birdies in his first seven holes before giving a bit back as the wind started to pick up at PGA National. Forecasters say the breezes will only get stronger from here, and that means Sunday could be wild. There were 28 players within five shots of the lead. Brooks Koepka (70), first-round leader Jhonattan Vegas (69) and Michael Thompson (66) were 4 under, and Sergio Garcia shot 70 for the second straight day to reach 3 under. Clark’s run of 122 consecutive holes without a three-putt ended at the par-3 15th, the start of The Bear Trap. But he made enough good shots to end the day alone on the 54-hole lead. “I felt like I managed where I hit the ball,” Clark said. “I put it in good spots. As long as I keep giving myself chances to make putts, I think I can win.” The first time Singh played The Honda Classic was 1994. Clark, who was three shots clear of the field at one point Saturday, was about 2 months old at the time. When Singh got to PGA National early in the week, the first thing he did was set out for a five-hour practice session — one of the many trademarks of his career. He’s using a longer putter, something he says Bernhard Langer talked him into trying. Even though there’s more than a few gray hairs wisping out from beneath his visor, Singh is still in excellent shape and says there’s no tension or pain in his body. “It’s work, determination, believing in what I believe in,” said Singh, who survived a super-windy Sunday to win the 1999 Honda at Herron Bay by two shots over Payne Stewart. “I just feel like if I play like I did today … when you aim at a target and swing the way you’re supposed to and the ball comes out, that’s the best feeling in the world.” Winning Sunday would be a pretty good feeling as well.

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