19th Hole
Tiger Woods gives intriguing update on his current level of play despite Hero withdrawal
It was all going so well for fans of Tiger Woods.
Last seen waving ‘goodbye’ to St. Andrews at the 150th Open Championship in July, there were signs that all was coming good once again.
- Related: Tiger Woods reveals 2023 schedule plan and calls for Greg Norman’s exit in blistering Hero presser
The 46-year-old was a confirmed starter at his own Hero World Challenge this week, before a made-for-tv Match VII would have seen him pair up with current world number one Rory McIlroy against Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth.
The three-week run was then to end with the legend pairing up once again with son Charlie at the PNC Championship, another ‘fun’ event at which both excelled when running-up to the Daly’s last year.
I am excited to announce that I will be in the field for this year’s #HeroWorldChallenge. A big welcome to @K_Kisner and @TommyFleetwood1 for joining us as well. See you soon at Albany!
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) November 9, 2022
Just a week ago, it was suggested that, despite that almost life-threatening car crash, Tiger was on his way to walking the full length of the Albany course this week, with journalist Dan Rapaport quoting Tiger as saying: “Can’t take a cart. This isn’t fantasy golf.”
And then it all went askew.
Tiger announced on Monday that he would have to withdraw from his own tournament, citing plantar fasciitis in his right foot as the reason for his non-attendance.
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) November 28, 2022
Although likely to appear in the remaining two events on his 2022 schedule, it’s of massive interest to discover how Tiger was playing before the breaking news of his latest injury?
In an interview with Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis, the five-time Masters champion revealed the answer to be ‘pretty well, thank you!’
“I was playing at home quite a bit, playing 18 holes shooting 65s and 64s, and walked one nine holes and shot 5-under, I was playing well,”
However, as many have feared, the pressure and toil of a four-day competition might be too much:
“But it’s the added load, the back-to-back days, in a tournament situation of four days in a row. My planner just didn’t like it. The only thing I can do for it is to rest it. Obviously scrape it, ice it, stretch it, it just takes time.”
Golfers often talk of ‘the process’ – the repeated routines, constant practise, increasing the workload to gain full fitness, rhythm or technique – and, even though Tiger might be unlikely to compete at the very highest level again, he is determined to complete the rehabilitation as best as his body will allow.
“Oh yeah. The scores I was shooting were good,” he told Lewis. “I was doing beach walks. I was leg pressing a lot. I was doing a lot of different things that I hadn’t been able to do all year.”
Tiger isn’t naïve, though, and recognises some limitations, particularly the missed-cut at St. Andrews, something that hit him deep.
“I had a couple of setbacks, procedurally. That took time, and getting ready for a major championship that didn’t quite work out the way I wanted it to. It’s part of the process.”
Fans of one of, if not the greatest golfer of all-time should not have to wait long to see him in action on the course, but these constant instances are a concern.
We can only hope at some point he completes the process.
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19th Hole
“Is it a Titleist?” – Jerry Seinfeld shares never-before-heard details of iconic scene
On Thursday, legendary comedian Jerry Seinfeld joined the Rich Eisen Show and shared an awesome story from a “Seinfeld” episode titled “The Marine Biologist.”
In the episode, a golf ball goes into the blow hole of a whale. According to Seinfeld, that was never in the episode’s script.
Seinfeld recalls saying the night before the filming of the episode, “What if what puts the whale in distress is Kramer’s golf ball?”
“He’s hitting golf balls at the beach. George is at the beach with a girl, we haven’t connected them!”
“We write that speech the night before at two o’clock in the morning…The sea was angry that day my friend.”
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Kramer finishes the iconic scene by asking “Is it a Titleist?” Seinfeld told Eisen the show sought Titleist’s permission to mention its name, saying the ball had to be a Titleist. Fortunately for lovers of the iconic show, the company agreed.
If (somehow) you’re unfamiliar with the scene, check it out below.
More from the 19th Hole
- Phil Mickelson drops big retirement hint; Says LIV will grow the game “on a much more global basis”
- 2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
- Tiger explains why golf has “negative connotations” for daughter Sam
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19th Hole
Phil Mickelson drops big retirement hint; Says LIV will grow the game ‘on a much more global basis’
While speaking with Bloomberg, golf legend Phil Mickelson acknowledged that he is inching close towards retirement.
“I’m 53 now,” Phil said, “and my career, you know, it’s — if I’m being truthful, it’s on — it’s — it’s — I’m a — it’s towards its end.”
Mickelson added that one of his focuses now is helping other young players.
“Now, I would like to help others find the same enjoyment and fulfillment that the game has provided me. I’d like them to experience that as well.”
The six-time major champion credited LIV with reaching new markets in golf to help it grow.
“I think that’s exciting for everyone involved in the game because we are going to reach markets that we didn’t reach before. I think it’s going to inspire more golf courses, inspire more manufacturers selling clubs and equipment, but also inspiring young kids to try to play golf professionally. I just see that the game of golf is going to grow on a much more global basis because of the excitement and the presence that LIV Golf has.”
Mickelson is playing at this week’s LIV Singapore and shot a first round 72 (+1).
More from the 19th Hole
- The wild reason why Mark Wahlberg was initially denied entry to an Australian golf club
- 2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
- Edoardo Molinari reveals the latest PGA Tour golfer to turn down ‘good offer’ from LIV Golf
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19th Hole
Tiger explains why golf has ‘negative connotations’ for daughter Sam
While Tiger Woods’ son, Charlie, has certainly inherited his father’s love for golf, his daughter, Sam, has not.
On Wednesday, Tiger made an appearance on The Today Show with Carson Daly and explained his daughter’s relationship with golf.
“Golf has negative connotations for her. When she was growing up, golf took daddy away from her. I had to pack, I had to leave, and I was gone for weeks. So, there were negative connotations to it.
“We developed our own relationship and our own rapport outside of golf. We do things that doesn’t involve golf. Meanwhile, my son and I, everything we do is golf related.”
The nine-minute interview touches on plenty of other subjects, such as Tiger’s relationship with his late father, Earl.
It’s arguably the most open we’ve seen the 15-time major champion in an interview and is most definitely worth watching.
Tiger Woods sits down with Carson Daly to talk about golf, growing up in Southern California, his father and his new apparel line, Sun Day Red. pic.twitter.com/2TFbSNxzxq
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) May 1, 2024
More from the 19th Hole
- The wild reason why Mark Wahlberg was initially denied entry to an Australian golf club
- 2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
- Edoardo Molinari reveals the latest PGA Tour golfer to turn down ‘good offer’ from LIV Golf
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