When Tiger Woods won the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines with basically just one leg for his 14th major title, it only seemed like a matter of time before he would break Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major titles. It is somewhat inconceivable but here we are six years later with Tiger facing more questions than answers as he resumes his quest to win another major title.
Tiger has a shot in winning his 15th major next week at the 143rd British Open which will be held at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake.
Read on for our analysis on Tiger’s chances in breaking his major slump next week and don’t forget to check out our preview for the British Open which you can find here.
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Can Tiger Woods Win the British Open?
At 38 years old and fresh from a complicated back surgery, Woods might not be the dominating golfer he once was. Still, he is a threat when it comes to major championships. Let’s look at three important factors in determining Tiger’s chances at this year’s British Open.
Rust
This is just Tiger’s second tournament since undergoing back surgery last April 1. He had a microdiscectomy on his herniated disc in his lower back. The expected recovery time for such a surgery was 4 ½ months so it was quite a shock and a surprise that Woods was able to participate in the Quicken Loans National golf tournament at Congressional last June.
[sc:Golf240banner ]The former world No. 1 suffered from the long layoff though as he shot a 7-over-par 149 and missed the cut by four shots. Even though Tiger expects to win every tournament he plays in, the fact that he was able to play two rounds of competitive golf will give Tiger some confidence ahead of the Open next week.
The most important thing in his appearance at Congressional was that he was able to test out his newly-repaired back and was able to play through without any setbacks. Hitting shots on the practice rounds are way different from actual tournament golf and Woods has those two rounds under his belt heading into the British Open.
Familiarity
The last time the British Open was held in Royal Liverpool, Woods was at the top of his game as he clinically dissected the course set-up as he shot a final round 67 to finish at 18-under 270, two strokes ahead of Chris DiMarco.
Woods’ game plan eight years ago was just putting the ball in play, meaning instead of using a driver, he was hitting a 2-iron or a 3-wood off the tees just to put the ball in the fairway. It was a clinic as Woods didn’t hit a single fairway bunker in the entire four rounds. His 18-under total was just a shot off the best total score which he also set back in 2000 at St. Andrews.
That’s probably the most important thing heading into next week. Woods knows how to win at this golf course. Woods holds the record in the PGA Tour for most wins on the same golf course with eight and he holds that distinction in three different courses namely at Torrey Pines, Bay Hill and Firestone Country Club.
He loves playing in particular courses and no doubt, Royal Liverpool is one of them and he’d love it if he could add another British Open crown at the same course where he won his last Open title.
Experience
Much has been said about Woods’ inability nowadays to win majors and that he doesn’t strike fear anymore into the hearts of his opponents. You can never count out Tiger Woods in any golf tournament however, particularly at a major. There’s a reason why even though he’s just back from a major back surgery and hasn’t played in almost three months, he is still the odds-on favorite at +1000 to win the British Open.
Writer’s Prediction
Tiger’s long absence from the game will severely affect his performance here. He will finish outside the top 10 and miss out on another major championship.
