How Tiger Woods improbably became Tiger Woods again

KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – Rory McIlroy was asked to reflect on how important his 2012 PGA Championship win was at Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course just as 2017 PGA Champion Justin Thomas entered the back of the press area. He couldn’t resist the opportunity to take aim at his fellow former FedExCup winner and friend in a jovial fashion. “It was huge. A lot of guys have won one major, but it’s a big hurdle to get to the second. It was good to get that monkey off my back, especially here, playing so well,” McIlroy said with a grin. “It was a big deal. I definitely didn’t want to be stuck on one for a long time, so happy to get that second.” He was of course referencing the fact Thomas, who seconds earlier was trying to distract McIlroy, has yet to add to his 2017 win in the major stakes. It was a fun moment and the two shared a laugh and a hug. It was in stark contrast to the dejected figure who stood on a press dais at TPC Sawgrass in March having just finished off rounds of 79-75 to miss the cut at THE PLAYERS or the guy who dodged media after rounds of 76-74 at the Masters. That Rory McIlroy admitted to feeling lost amidst swing issues and a crisis of confidence. This Rory McIlroy was all smiles and cautiously optimistic having won the Wells Fargo Championship two weeks ago to burst out of his funk. Winning might not take care of everything – but it goes close. While the swing changes he’s implementing with coach Pete Cowen are still working their way into his game, McIlroy now returns to the site of his dominant eight-shot win all those years ago with his mind in a better place and his game setting up nicely. “I’ve always said when you’re in the thick of it, it always seems further away than it is. I went into the Masters searching and feeling like I was somewhat on the right track but still hadn’t seen any progress on the golf course. I had seen some progress off it and on the range, but then trying to get it on to the course, I was in that transition period,” McIlroy said of the contrast. “I’m happy with where my game is, so if I go out and play my game and do what I know that I can do, then I can see myself shooting good scores on this golf course. I’ve just got to go out there, play my game, and if I play my game somewhat close to the best of my ability, I’m sure I’ll have a good chance.” For McIlroy, winning at Wells Fargo was important, but continuing his improvement is the main focus. While he recognizes a return to Kiawah presents a great opportunity he remains focused on his long-term goals of consistency in his new swing. “Quail was awesome, it was great to get a win, but I’m thinking way beyond that, and it’s funny, when you sort of think that way, something like that just sort of happens to fall into your lap. It’s almost like the less you try, the more things sort of go your way,” McIlroy said. “It was a great start. It was a great validation that I’m working on the right things, but it was just a step in the process. It was wonderful to get the win, but even if I had come away from Quail without winning, I think I still would have been very encouraged with the sort of golf that I played.” There are some short-term positives as well though. In particular the Northern Irishman said the clutch shots he hit on the 16th and 17th holes at Quail Hollow, and his ability to get up and down on 18 after driving it into a penalty area, would be huge at Kiawah Island this week as he chases a 20th PGA TOUR win and fifth major. “The big thing that I was really encouraged with at Quail Hollow is it’s my first time really getting myself into contention in a while, and to have those thoughts and movements sort of hold up under that pressure, trying to win a golf tournament, coming down some really tough holes, that’s what I was really pleased with,” he said. “To hit the shots exactly the way I wanted to and play those holes very well with a lead, that’s something that I haven’t been able to do probably over the last 18 months. I was very encouraged with that.”

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PGA TOUR Statement on Gary Woodland, Scott Piercy PGA TOUR members Gary Woodland and Scott Piercy have withdrawn from The Honda Classic after testing positive for COVID-19. The players will have the PGA TOUR's full support throughout their self-isolation period under CDC guidelines. Woodland is replaced in the field by Sebastian Cappelen and D.J. Trahan replaces Piercy.

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MAMARONECK, N.Y. - The phone was in the bag. He put it there before the round, and by golly, it was going to stay there. Instead of snapping a photo, caddie Todd Thompson looked at the leaderboard and burned it into his memory. Davis Thompson, his 21-year-old son, was at 4-under-par and leading the 120th U.S. Open. "It was cool to see his name up there," said Todd, who in his day job is the tournament director for The RSM Classic, the PGA TOUR's regular stop in St. Simons Island, Georgia. PGA TOUR UNIVERSITY: Get to know Davis Thompson Cool? Well, OK, that's an understatement, but then Todd and his son are understated guys. Thompson bogeyed three of the last six holes for a 1-under 69 at Winged Foot, just four back of early leader Justin Thomas, while playing partners Harris English and Brendon Todd each shot 68. The all-Georgia group were the only threesome to all shoot under par in the morning wave. Familiarity helped. English, who like Thompson lives in Sea Island, Georgia, played a practice round with the kid at Ocean Forest last week as part of their preparation for Winged Foot. The kid won. Todd, who lives in Athens, Georgia, sometimes plays with Thompson when they're in town, and calls the younger player remarkably poised for his age. Thompson called it, "a comfortable pairing." He is the fourth-ranked player in PGA TOUR U, a new program that sends the top collegiate players to the Korn Ferry Tour to begin their professional careers, and the fourth-ranked player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, earning his U.S. Open start. But he still looks as guileless as the paperboy, and his nerves needed soothing, at least early in the week. "Yeah, the first guy I think I saw was Rory," he said. "That was pretty cool. Growing up, I was around - I was growing up and getting really serious about golf when he was winning all of his majors. So I kind of looked up to him. I’m just very thankful to be here." He showed no signs of nerves with birdies on holes 6, 7 and 8, sending shock waves far and wide. On the other coast, Todd Thompson's boss Davis Love III was in Pebble Beach for the PURE Insurance Championship on PGA TOUR Champions, and cheering through his TV. "I woke up and my phone was blowing up," said Love, the 21-time TOUR winner who won the 1997 PGA Championship at Winged Foot. "The whole island is excited for Davis." So was Chris Haack, who is going into his 25th year as coach of the Georgia men's golf team. "When he was 2 under I was not surprised," Haack said. "When he went to 3 under, I thought, Awesome! When he went 4 under, I thought, Oh, my God, this is great. He's a momentum player. He's not flashy, not very talkative. I just love the work ethic. I've had a lot of really good players, and he works as hard or harder than anybody I've ever had." And as for Thompson? What did he make of being 4 under? "Just keep everything physical, not emotional," he said. "Just stay through my routines and just keep doing what I’m doing. Just take it one quality shot at a time, one hole at a time, and not thinking about the future or 18, but staying in the moment." Yep. Understated. He is not, by the way, named for Davis Love III. Todd Thompson and wife Leigh just liked the name. Their son grew up playing golf and basketball in Auburn, Alabama. When he was 12, Todd turned the golf instruction over to Eric Eshleman, Director of Golf at the Country Club of Birmingham, to avoid mixing up the father-son relationship. Davis Thompson helped lead Lee Scott Academy to six state titles, including individual titles in 2013 and 2015. He was an All-America at Georgia as a junior, and finished T23 as an amateur at The RSM Classic. Today, his legend extends all the way from Auburn to Sea Island. The most famous story might be Keith Mitchell, also a Georgia alum and the winner of The Honda Classic last year, making seven birdies in a match against Thompson - and losing 4 and 3. "He's unbelievably good," Mitchell told the PGA TOUR. English and Todd concur. "He’s just been very disciplined since day one," Todd said. "He doesn’t party. He practices efficiently. He has a very easy-going temperament, doesn’t seem to get too mad." Thompson hit what appeared to be a good tee shot at the par-3 13th hole Thursday, but the ball went too far and he made bogey. Todd got in his ear as they walked to the 14th tee, saying they were all fooled by the wind gust, that he'd hit a good shot, that he should keep his head up. Todd Thompson, who also played for Georgia, tried to qualify for the U.S. Open a handful of times, but never made it. So being on his son's bag has worked nicely on a few levels. "With the rules here for COVID and everything, it was the only way I could get here," he said. "My wife's not happy she's not here, because she would have loved to watch." Love III sees in Davis Thompson a player who will have absolutely no trouble making the transition from college to the PGA TOUR, when the time comes. "He knows how to play golf," Love said. "... I'm impressed with his demeanor; he's very even, doesn't get upset. It's perfect for a U.S. Open, perfect for pressure." Perfect for the TOUR, too, but there's no hurry. Davis Thompson is taking it one shot at a time.

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