HOYLAKE, United Kingdom: Tiger Woods yesterday was handed an early start in Thursday’s first round of the British Open at Hoylake which sees him return to the venue where he triumphed the last time it was held there in 2006.
In what will be just his second tournament since undergoing back surgery in late March, the 14-time major winner will set off at 9:04am (0804 GMT) in the company of Angel Cabrera and Henrik Stenson.
Woods, who claimed his third Claret Jug at the Royal Liverpool course eight years ago, returned to action in the Quicken Loans National at the end of June, but he missed the halfway cut at Congressional.
He has not played competitively since, but completed 12 holes in practice at the Open course Saturday and a full round on Sunday and was in optimistic mood.
“I can do whatever I want. I’m at that point now,” the 38-year-old said of his recovery process.
“We didn’t think we’d get to that point until this tournament or the week after.
“Before I had the procedure, I was at the point I couldn’t do anything. This is how I used to feel. I had been playing with [the back injury] for a while and I had my good weeks and bad weeks. Now they are all good.”
Defending champion Phil Mickelson is set for a 2:05pm (1305GMT) start in a marquee grouping with 2012 Open champion Ernie Els and current Masters champion Bubba Watson.
Two groups later England’s Justin Rose, who made it back-to-back tournament wins on Sunday at the Scottish Open in Aberdeen plays with world number one Adam Scott and US PGA champion Jason Dufner.AFP
