The Open 2019: Tiger Woods relying on old links artistry after lack of Portrush preparation

Of all four majors, Woods believes The Open offers him the best shot at victory once again

Brave is the man that calls Tiger Woods underprepared, but the sense already lingers that his Open Championship will be one waged on old talents rather than the dreadnought practice he is known by.

Entering a sun-bloomed Royal Portrush this week, the 15-time major champion has played just three tournaments since his cathartic victory at Augusta in April and admitted he’s still lacking on homework around Portrush’s wiry links. And, as he gazed glassily over a press conference room that snaked out the doors, it was hard to avoid the warmth of satisfaction where steel once was.

The most stunning quality of Woods at his peak, for all his mastery of talents both mental and physical, was how dominance bled into routine. But, once he made his staggered return after a spiral of injuries, that cold demeanour was replaced by unshielded relief and enjoyment, a youthful love for the sport that he had rarely exhibited in the past. The hunger, though, always remained as a counterbalance.

In hindsight, the ending to Woods’ Masters victory was so perfect that, perhaps, he couldn’t help but release part of that desire by way of result. His previous insistence that golf was no longer a consuming priority in his life becoming something very real and sentimental rather than a throwaway comment. Asked yesterday if golf was still the most important thing in his life, he jumped to reiterate that same stance.

“No, golf never has been,” he said. “Golf has been a part of my life, something I have done pretty much my entire life, but it’s never been the most important thing in my life.

“The biggest changes for me is that it’s exciting to be able to come back and play championship golf again. I didn’t think I could. And to be able to do it again and then come as close as I’ve come in major championships and have won one just makes it that much more special.

“Seeing my kids at Augusta, they got a chance to experience The Open Championship last year after their dad took the lead, and then made a few mistakes. And this time they got to see me win a major championship. It was special for us as a family. My mom was still around. She was there, ‘97, my dad was there, and now my kids were there. So it was a very emotional week and one that I keep reliving. It’s hard to believe that I pulled it off and I ended up winning the tournament."

Even after contending at multiple majors before victory at Augusta, Woods is still dining on a sheer happiness at being able to play. A joy that benefits and is perpetuated by his light-patter schedule. Despite his coming into this Open with a less polished armoury – admitting himself on Tuesday that he still feels slight off-kilter around the greens – it would be ludicrous to suggest he cannot surmount a very real challenge at Portrush.

The truth is that this Open could belong to anyone. There is no select clutter of names – as touted by Brooks Koepka – that have the capabilities to win a major. With crisp fairways that run with a light skip, there is little advantage for the long-bombers favoured by the US Open and US PGA. The tournament remains at mercy of the weather and the scene is set for artistry to prevail over match practice. It’s why, of all four majors, Woods believes The Open offers him the best shot at victory once again.

“It does,” he said. “There is an art to playing links golf. It’s not ‘okay, I have 152 yards, bring out the automatic 9-iron and hit it 152’. Here, 152 could be a little bump-and-run pitching wedge. It could be a chip 6-iron.

“Let’s go back to the PGA. It was set up so that it was more advantageous to bomb it. The guys who hit it long and were up there. Look at Brooks, what he was doing, DJ [Dustin Johnson], what he did at the end. When you come to an Open Championship it’s set up for anyone.”