Mamaroneck, N.Y. – The 106th U.S. Open is shaping up as one of the most compelling tournaments in recent memory, from Phil Mickelson’s attempt at winning a third consecutive major championship to awaiting which heretofore unknown will emerge from obscurity to contend at Winged Foot Golf Club.
However, it’s hard not to look ahead to Sunday, and what the day might possibly hold for Tiger Woods. As is traditionally the case with the Open, the final round will be played on Father’s Day. For Woods, it will be his first without his dad, Earl, who died May 3.
“Father’s Day was actually a pretty cool day because I would always try to beat my dad on the golf course, and then come back home and catch the back nine of the U.S. Open. That’s how it usually worked when I was growing up,” Woods said Tuesday during a news conference. “It was always a great day when I beat my dad, and then we’d go home and watch the Open. It wasn’t always a great day when he’d beat me.”
That sense of competitiveness may be the most pronounced quality passed on from father to son, who has not entered an event since he finished tied for third at the Masters some two months ago. He repeatedly touched on the idea that he wasn’t going to return to the golf course until he was ready to win.
“Dad was always very adamant of, ‘Whenever you’re ready to play, play. If you’re not ready, don’t play,”‘ Woods said. “If you’re not mentally ready to play, you’re not going to be there.
“He always thought I played too much. I play 20 times a year on tour, and he’d say, ‘Why are you playing so much?”‘
There were times during Woods’ 30-minute media session when it appeared he might break down when talking about his relationship with his father. While Earl Woods had not been able to travel in recent years because of his battle with cancer, some of the more enduring images from many of Tiger’s major victories are still of his dad, waiting off the 72nd hole to engulf him in a bearhug.
Some who wonder if the idea of that never happening again – particularly given the Father’s Day finish – may be too much for Tiger to overcome. The Open will mark the end of the longest period of inactivity in Woods’ 10-year professional career. During the final stages of his father’s life and in the aftermath of his death, Woods engaged in a variety of activities, from bungee jumping and race car driving in New Zealand, to being the best man at two weddings, to taking in a New York Yankees game.
One of the most difficult things to do, he admits, was play golf again.
“I had no desire to get back,” he said. “I think one of the hardest things for me, in all honesty, was to get back to the game of golf because a lot of memories, great memories, that I have with my dad are at the golf course.
“It was hard at times going out there late in the evening like I like to do. I remember going out there, and I remember starting back. Anytime you take a lot of time off and start back, you always work on your fundamentals, grip, posture stance, alignment, well, that’s what I learned from Dad.
“So from that standpoint, it was certainly a little more difficult than I expected. But also, then again, it brought back so many great memories, and every time I thought back, I always had a smile on my face.”
But having overcome his emotional hurdle, Woods said he expects to play to win this week.
“I’m very excited about the way I’ve played at home and even more excited about the way I’ve played here,” he said of his bid for an 11th major championship.
And, given the gifts passed along from father to son, Woods is tough to beat when he’s excited and in full-throttle competitive mode.
That means Tiger is still the man to watch.
“Does he feel like it was a problem? I’m hoping he does,” Mickelson said facetiously of Woods’ layoff. “I’ve never seen a tournament where he has not been prepared to win, unfortunately.”
Staff writer Anthony Cotton can be reached at 303-820-1292 or acotton@denverpost.com.
