LOUISVILLE, Ky. — He’s 48 now, has a fused back, a bar in his right leg to help with stability, and more physical ailments than the former 12-year NFL lineman. .
These problems have reduced the winningest player in PGA Tour history to a part-time player.
But Tiger Woods still believes he has it in him.
Don’t get me wrong. Woods isn’t entering his PGA Championship this week at Valhalla expecting to do the same thing on the course that he did when he won the PGA here in 2000.
but…
“I still feel like I can win golf tournaments,” Woods said Tuesday during his pre-tournament media availability. “I still feel like I can hit shots, I still feel like I can putt with my hands around the greens. Instead of just doing it for two days at Augusta, I want to do it all four days.”
Woods last played in a tournament last month at the Masters. He set a tournament record with 24 consecutive cuts, but finished last among the 60 players who made the cut.
Max Homa had a front-row seat to Woods’ show at Augusta because he was paired for the first two rounds.
And Homa has used that experience to live by what Woods believes: that he still has a chance to win again, adding to his career record of 82 wins.
“His golf game was unbelievable,” Homa said Tuesday. “The two days I played with him, he hit some great balls. If he had made some (putts) he would have been near the lead. The second day he had to play 20-odd holes. It was a tough draw for him because he didn’t (23 holes on Friday because the first round was interrupted by bad weather). ).
“His skill level, his talent, remains mesmerizing,” Homa continued. “I feel like it’s going to happen, it’s always crazy to think he’s going to win again. But watching him play those two days at Augusta, I really thought he could win another golf tournament. I feel like we all know he really wants it. He works so hard and he plays really good golf, so there’s nothing that can top him at this point.”
When Woods heard Homa’s words, he said, Traveling is a challenge I face on a daily basis and a recovery from pushing myself on practice and game days. I saw it at Augusta. I arrived two days later and didn’t do very well over the weekend. ”
Woods followed up a 73-72 start against Homa with an 82 in the third round and a 77 in the final round.
This week, Woods will do everything he can to pull off his epic 2000 playoff victory over Bob May. This victory made him the second player in golf’s professional era (since the Masters was founded in 1934) to win three majors. He won the championship that same year and joined Ben Hogan in 1953.
Less than eight months later, Woods won the 2001 Masters and completed the Tiger Slam, making history as the first golfer to win all four professional majors at the same time.
“I just remember the pressure I felt, the opportunity, the opportunity to do what Ben Hogan did in 1953,” Woods said. “The summer was a whirlwind. I came into this event playing well and got to play with Jack (Nicklaus) in his last PGA Championship. Jack played well with Gene Sarazen in his last PGA Championship. We played together and I also played with Jack in his last PGA, so just the connection to that.
“There were so many great memories from that week,” Woods continued. “Obviously I made the putt on the 18th hole to get into the playoffs, and I made a nice putt on the 16th hole to chase it down. Bob May, who is probably one of the best junior golfers Southern California has ever produced. It was a really fun week and an unbelievable moment.”
