It’s been some time since Tiger Woods teed it up in a U.S. Open. It’s additionally been 19 years since he final competed at Pinehurst No. 2, the place he completed runner-up to longshot winner Michael Campbell.
So, to assist re-familiarize himself with the course and higher put together for golf’s hardest check, Woods has a ‘new coach’ accompanying him at Pinehurst this week.
That can be his 15-year-old son Charlie.
“I believe having Charlie out right here may be very particular. To have the father-son relationship that we’ve got and to increase it into this a part of each of our lives, he’s enjoying lots of junior golf, and I’m nonetheless enjoying out right here,” Woods stated Tuesday.
“I belief him with my swing and my sport. He’s seen it greater than anyone else on the earth. He’s seen me hit extra golf balls than anybody. I inform him what to search for, particularly with placing. He gave me a few little facet bits in the present day, which was nice as a result of I get so entrenched in hitting sure putts to sure pins I are likely to neglect a few of the issues I’m engaged on.
“I simply wish to see the balls rolling. He jogs my memory each every now and then, which is nice. We have a terrific relationship and rapport like that, and it’s an exquisite expertise for each of us.”
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The greens have grow to be the preeminent matter at Pinehurst No. 2 this week, so Woods has spent ample time making certain he has the correct velocity down.
The ‘turtleback’ shapes of those placing surfaces diminish the precise measurement of the greens and in addition ricochet golf balls down beneath the surfaces. That leads gamers to chip from precarious positions whereas forcing them to resolve: do I putt from off the inexperienced? Or do I chip it? If so, with what membership? A wedge? 3-wood? 4-iron?
“There are a number of areas by which I’d putt. There are additionally a number of areas by which I’d use my 56 or 60 [degree wedge],” Woods stated.
“I’ve used as much as a 4-iron bump-and-running it, and I’ve tried a number of woods on the market. I didn’t like the way in which that reacted. But a few of the areas are extra grainy than others. I believe that’s one of many issues, for me particularly, I must be careful for, is a few of the chatter that you just may get arising the hills and the way a lot velocity you’re going to have arising after which over the subsequent ridge.”
Woods and everybody else within the discipline should execute the velocity accurately, or huge numbers loom. It solely takes one gap to break a championship; simply ask Nelly Korda concerning the twelfth gap at Lancaster Country Club.
“There’s lots of totally different shot alternatives, and the grain goes to play a giant a part of it,” Woods additional defined.
“The previous couple of days enjoying apply rounds—I’m responsible in addition to the remainder of the blokes I’ve performed with—we’ve putted off lots of greens. It is dependent upon how extreme the USGA needs to make this and the way shut they wish to get us as much as these sides. But I foresee, similar to in ‘05, watching some guys play ping-pong backwards and forwards. It might occur.”
Hopefully, for Woods’ sake, he doesn’t have a ping-pong expertise this week. But he has his son Charlie serving to him navigate all of it, a particular circumstance irrespective of the end result.
Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be positive to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You can comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as effectively.
