Tiger and Rory embrace historic 150th Open Championship, lash out at LIV Golf Tour

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland - It was a dream foursome, joined by 18-time major champion Jack Nicklaus, in the final group of Monday’s ‘Celebration of Champions’ – Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Lee Trevino and women’s British Open champion, Georgia Hall.

Just an appetizer for what promises to be a sensational week ahead – notwithstanding the ongoing turmoil dividing the world of pro golf – at this week’s 150th Open Championship on the hallowed grounds and links of St. Andrews. The tournament marks the 30th time the Open Championship, dating to 1860, is being contested at The Old Course.

“It’s a very special week - to be included in a pretty special day yesterday, it was very cool,” said McIlroy, whose best finish at St. Andrews was third in 2010, having shot a then major record of 63 in the opening round. “To play in something like that alongside my childhood hero, Tiger, one of the legends of the game, Lee Trevino, and then Georgia as well.

“It’s one of those moments that you take a step back and sort of think about your journey in golf and what’s led you here,” said the Tokyo 2020 Olympian. “This is a special week for me because I missed the previous Open here in 2015.”

Woods, a two-time Open champion at St. Andrews in 2000 and 2005, said a return to the Old Course became a quest, despite the serious leg injuries he suffered in a near fatal car crash in February 2021, and continues to struggle with while walking courses.

“For the most part of my rehab I was just hoping that I could walk again, you know, walk normal and have a normal life and maybe play a little hit-and-giggle golf with my son or my friends at home,” Woods told media on Tuesday.

“But lo and behold, I’ve played championship golf this year. And once I realized that I could possibly play at a high level, my focus was to get back here at St. Andrews to play in this championship being, as I said, it’s the most historic one we’ve ever had. I just didn’t want to miss this Open here at the home of golf,” he said.

Along with Nicklaus, Woods is just one of five golfers to have won two Open titles at St. Andrews. Testimony to the mind-boggling history at the ‘Home of Golf’, the other three two-time champions here were Bob Martin (1876 & 1885), J.H. Taylor (1895 & 1900) and James Braid (1900 & 1905). The first Open to be played at St. Andrews was in 1873, a tournament won by Tom Kidd.

Woods’ history at the Old Course dates to 1995, when he navigated the unpredictable winds off of the North Sea and the more than 100-plus dreaded bunkers for the first time.

“This has meant so much to me – this is where I completed the career grand slam,” Woods said, referring to his victory in 2000. “At the time, I had the record in scoring in all four major championships, so this venue has meant a lot to me.”

Woods said this week at the venerable course even feels extra special, at what will most likely be his final competitive tournament at St. Andrews.

“It’s hard to believe, it’s been 150 years we’ve played this tournament,” Woods said. “This does feel like it’s the biggest Open Championship we’ve ever had.”

McIlroy and Woods diplomatically take shots at LIV Golf

The duo of golf superstars, and naturally the R&A organizers, will not let talk and turmoil surrounding the Saudi-backed rebel LIV Tour infiltrate or overshadow a tournament, which considering the historic anniversary could shape up to be as special and memorable as any previous. Both Woods and McIlroy said they support the R&A’s decision to ban LIV Golf chief executive Greg Norman, a two-time Open Champion, from attending festivities this week, including Tuesday evening’s Champions Dinner.

“Right now, just with everything going on, we want the focus to be on the 150th Open Championship and this being a celebration of a wonderful golf tournament and a wonderful game in general, and I think it was the right decision for that,” McIlroy said, regarding Norman’s exclusion.

McIlroy admitted, that selfishly, he hopes the “Champion Golfer of the Year” will not be one of the players who have accepted the astronomical monetary figures provided by LIV, departing and having been banned by the PGA Tour. Marquee names that have jumped ship include Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio Garcia and 2013 Open Champion Phil Mickelson.

Woods was also blunt in his condemnation of the LIV Tour, without specifically mentioning any of his fellow golfers. The 15-time major champion criticized Norman for pursuits not “in the best interest of our game” and said young players leaving the PGA Tour had “turned their back on what has allowed them to get to this position.”

“I just don’t see how that move is positive in the long term for a lot of these players, especially if the LIV organization doesn’t get world-ranking points and the major championships change their criteria for entering the events,” Woods added.

Olympic champions Schauffele and Rose tee it up

In the field this week are Olympic golf gold medalists Justin Rose and Xander Schauffele. The American Schauffele arrives at St. Andrews as the world’s hottest pro golfer, fresh off consecutive victories at last weekend’s Scottish Open and the Travelers Championship in Connecticut.

The 28-year-old Olympic champion is seeking his first major tournament victory, coming up just short at both the 2018 Open Championship and 2019 Masters. He finished tied for second in both of those events.

The 150th Open Championship officially begins on Thursday, July 14, with winds and weather conditions expected to be tamer than the swirling gusts players dealt with Tuesday and what is forecast for Wednesday.

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