Tiger Woods did not stop when he crossed the Swilcan Bridge.
The stone bridge that crosses a burned premium in hole 18 of St. Andrews has long been the place where legends like Nicklaus and Watson stopped on their final journey, admiring the scene and appreciating the gallery. Woods took off his cap, raised his hands, slowed down … but didn’t stop. Make it what you want it to be.
A few seconds later, as he was walking up 18th Street, the excitement overcame him. He rubbed his eyes as tears flowed. On the first fairway nearby, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth, two of the players who have taken a measure of his mantle, saw him pass. It would be the last time Woods played a British Open in St. Louis. Andrews? He’s not even sure.
“I’ve been doing this since 1995,” Woods said. “I don’t know if I can physically play another British Open here in St. Andrews. I will definitely be able to play more British Open, but I don’t know if I will be able to play when I come back here. “
At this point, the numbers don’t really matter. Woods leaves home early. The red sweater will stay folded in your luggage. The galleries that would have followed him over the weekend will now disperse to chase McIlroy or Spieth or one of the many other non-Tigers who cross his path.
Just for the record: Woods gave it a +3 on Friday to go with a +6 on Thursday. He lost the cut of a mile on a benign day to score, a messy end to what until Thursday morning had been a delightful week for Woods.
For almost a quarter of a century, the easy explanation of pop psychology of why Woods won so many majors and Phil Mickelson was not that Woods was a cold killer and Mickelson was a too likeable boy. Where Woods kept a frozen distance between himself and literally everyone (fans, media, teammates), Mickelson was warm, attractive, signing autographs at every opportunity, smiling for a lifetime while Woods hid.
That light-dark dynamic was always too simplistic; Phil’s cheerful exterior hid a ruthless competitive streak, on the one hand. But after seeing Woods in action (and inaction) this week at the Open Championship, it’s interesting to note that while Woods delights in his love of the golf establishment, it’s a hesitant shadow of his old self in the rural area.
The story goes on
Of course, there is a much more obvious explanation for Woods ’struggles: the man nearly died in a single-car accident in February 2021 and is still recovering from that catastrophe. But what’s fascinating is how apparently Woods, at this late date in his career, finally takes into account the impending sunset. He reached the top of the mountain, but made the journey practically alone. Look for company around you on the return trip.
Woods spent his championship years with everyone around him with contempt, if not disgust. Now, he has become a close friend of many of the next generation of players; Justin Thomas even considers him an older brother. He leaves the cap to the fans he once ignored. He offers thoughtful responses (at least not canned) at media meetings that would have previously jumped after terrible rounds like Thursday.
He is enjoying the embrace of golf goalkeepers, and defends the history and legacy of the game even as LIV Golf increasingly invades the territory of the PGA Tour. This new inclusion may not win him any more tournaments, but it might earn him some peace of mind. And then there was the last walk to 18, the excitement flowing more freely from him than he may have ever had on the course.
“The warmth and ovation of 18, came to me,” Woods said. “I heard [playing partners Matt Fitzpatrick and Max Homa] stop the tee at 18, and it was amazing, the understanding and respect of everyone involved in this event. ”
Tiger Woods gestures to the crowd as he walks across the Swilcan Bridge at hole 18. (Glyn Kirk / AFP via Getty Images)
Late Thursday afternoon, at the end of a six-hour round, Woods had climbed on the 18th to St. Louis. Andrews amid shouts of “GO TOY-GAH!” echoing the yellow marker of the Open and the imposing clubhouse of the famous Royal & Ancient Golf Club. He had made double bogey his first hole on Thursday, and the day didn’t improve as he finished the first round at +6. Still, the fans cheered him on, cheered him on, waiting for one more miracle.
“Considering all the things, where I’ve been, I was hoping to be able to play this event this year,” Woods said Thursday evening. “That was always on the calendar in order to be good enough to play it. And I am. And I didn’t do very well.”
Without resting enough to allow his battered body to recover, Woods left Friday morning at 4:58 a.m. east, and had a brief sliver of hope when he made a bird in the third hole. But he immediately returned it to the fourth, then made bogey on the sixth and double bogey on the 16th. With nothing to play beyond pride, he roamed the field and finally reached Swilcan Bridge at hole 18.
Woods insists he will not retire, but is unlikely to be in a position to play more than a ceremonial role the next time the Open returns to St. Louis. Andrews at the end of this decade. This will be a week to remember for Woods, but 36 holes to forget.
When and where to play again, you will expect a better result than the first two rounds of this Open. And since we’re talking about Tiger Woods, maybe he understands. If nothing else, you will appreciate every last swing.
_____
Contact Jay Busbee at jay.busbee@yahoo.com or on Twitter at @jaybusbee.