Greatest Second of the 12 months — Tiger Woods’ stroll up the Swilcan Bridge
For good motive, the second of the yr in golf drew a number of nominations on the Golfweek editorial summit earlier this month. However as soon as Tiger Woods crossing the Swilcan Burn Bridge was proposed the talk was over. It’s powerful on a few of these year-end awards to succeed in consensus, however there was unanimity as everybody nodded in settlement and we shortly moved on to the subsequent class. Such was the goosebumps-on-goosebumps second that was Tiger Woods doubtlessly saying farewell to his aggressive days on the Outdated Course at St. Andrews within the 150th British Open.
All that was lacking from this second was it occurred on Friday afternoon with Woods lacking the minimize badly fairly than being feted on Sunday. Woods, who gained three Claret Jugs amongst his 15 main championship victories and two of them at St. Andrews, in 2000 and 2005, skipped the U.S. Open with a view to enable his surgically repaired proper leg and the remainder of his ailing physique to heal sufficient so he might even play. This was the one event Woods had circled on his calendar to play in 2022 and he wasn’t about to overlook it.
And so it didn’t actually matter that he was 9 over and destined to overlook the minimize by a protracted shot. Followers had arrived early that morning and assembled across the 18th gap. They waited for Woods to method the famed Swilcan Bridge that leads gamers over the burn, which meanders throughout the primary and 18th holes, and onto the 18th fairway.
Taking part in opponents Matt Fitzpatrick and Max Homa in addition to Woods’ caddie Joe LaCava hovered behind as Woods approached the bridge alone, the stage set for the monumental second. Right here is the place Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson earlier than him took turns bidding adieu to the Outdated Gray Toon. Woods slowed his stroll and lifted his white Nike cap in appreciation however by no means really broke stride for the lengthy ceremonial cease that many anticipated. Did that sign that Woods anticipated to have at the least another spin across the Outdated Course down the highway? Not even he is aware of.
“I don’t know if I ever get again to taking part in St. Andrews in a British Open, however to have the ability to expertise that perhaps one final time at this degree was very particular to me,” he stated afterward. “That was my favourite golf course in the entire world, and if that was it, that was it, to have the ability to probably end up my profession there, I don’t know. That’s one of many the reason why I used to be form of emotional as a result of I don’t know if I’ll ever play St. Andrews once more. I’ll play Open Championships sooner or later however I don’t know if I’ll be round when it comes again there once more.”
Tiger Woods suggestions his hat to the group after teeing off on the 18th gap in the course of the second spherical of the a hundred and fiftieth Open Championship at St. Andrews Outdated Course. (Picture: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports activities)
As Golfweek’s Steve DiMeglio wrote, “There have been tears in his eyes, weight in his coronary heart.”
“It’s very emotional for me,’’ Woods stated. “I had a number of tears. The heat and the ovation at 18, it obtained to me. I’m not one who will get very teary-eyed fairly often about something.’’
Woods speculated that the Open probably gained’t return to St. Andrews till 2030 when he’d be 53 years previous.
“I don’t know if I shall be bodily in a position to play by then,’’ he stated. “So, to me, it felt like this might need been my final British Open right here at St. Andrews.’’
Followers weren’t the one ones to bathe Woods with applause as he walked the 18th fairway. Rory McIlroy performed close by on the primary fairway and tipped his cap to the golfer who impressed him to take up the sport. And when Woods reached the 18th inexperienced, Justin Thomas had simply teed off and did likewise.
“It was simply unbelievable,” Woods stated. “The nods I used to be getting from guys as they have been going out and I used to be coming in, simply the respect, that was fairly neat. And from a gamers’ fraternity degree, it’s neat to see that and really feel that.”
Fitzpatrick stated the scene “gave me goosebumps,’’ including, “It’s one thing that may reside with me eternally.’’
And with all of us. That’s why it was the second of the yr.
Story originally appeared on GolfWeek
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