Tiger Woods watched Jack Nicklaus say goodbye on the Swilcan Bridge. He was right here when Tom Watson did the identical. He noticed Arnold Palmer bid farewell.
Now, as he confessed he would possibly by no means be again on the House of Golf, Woods is aware of it would now be his flip. It’s a thought as painful because the accidents which have put him on this place. However it's actuality. And Woods has been by an excessive amount of to inform himself lies. It’s why he has achieved a lot to be right here.
The official R&A slogan for the a hundred and fiftieth Championship is – every thing has led to this. It might have been thought up with Woods in thoughts. Having survived a automotive crash that would have killed him the 46-year-old icon is aware of planning the long run is an unwise vocation. However Woods is accepting of the very fact he might not ever return to his favorite place.
Will probably be no less than 5 years earlier than The Open is again and he stated: “I don’t know, whether it is that lengthy, whether or not I can bodily compete at this stage by then. I don’t know what number of Open Championships I've left right here at St Andrews however I needed this one. It began right here for me in 1995 and if it ends right here in 2022, it does. If it doesn’t it doesn’t.
“If I get the possibility to play another it could be nice however there’s no assure. Everybody has appeared to have made their farewell there. I obtained an opportunity to look at Arnold hit his first tee shot on the second day in 1995 and that was fairly particular.
“I used to be occurring the vary and subsequent factor I hear Ivor Robson on the tee asserting: “From USA, Arnold Palmer.” He will get up there, provides it the large ol’ waggle and hits it up the center and his head is bobbing all over.
“And I performed in all probability about 4 or 5 holes behind Jack and Tom when Jack retired in 2005, listening to the roars get louder and louder and louder as we got here in the direction of the end. You can hear the ovations that Jack obtained arising 18 for the final time after which the roar as a result of clearly he made the putt. I imply, he wasn’t going to overlook.
“We had been speaking about that yesterday. He claims he’s by no means missed a putt. And I stated, nicely, that he can recall.
“It’s nice to be part of this Open. It feels historic. It means loads. That is the place all of it started for me as an newbie.
"My first likelihood to play in The Open was right here. I’ll always remember I performed with Ernie Els and Peter Jacobsen the primary two days.
“We had an opportunity to play with some greats in observe rounds, Freddie, Raymond, Ollie, Langer. I had a good time as a younger little child and so they confirmed me the ropes.
“I feel that is my sixth Open right here. Simply to have that have and the flexibility to play on the House of Golf is all the time fairly particular.
“Then to have gained it twice makes it that rather more particular.”
There’s a lot round this week for Woods, the Celebration of Champions on Monday, final night time’s Champions Dinner. Taking part in and sitting amongst heroes of his in environment they cherish.
Whether it is goodbye, it couldn’t be any-more excellent. Woods stated: “There’s a lot that’s occurring. To have the ability to play yesterday with Lee Buck [Trevino] and to listen to him chatting your complete time over each shot as he’s hitting. Then our Champions Dinner as a result of we solely do it right here.
“It’s been 150 years we’ve performed this event. The historical past behind it's unbelievable, the champions which have gained right here.
“That is the place I accomplished the profession Grand Slam. On the time I had the document in scoring in all 4 Main championships. This venue has meant loads.
“I've a photograph in my workplace of once I first performed my first observe spherical. Me sitting there, the historical past and the people who have walked over that bridge.
“I inform you what, truthfully, now I’ve obtained to be a bit of extra cautious with spikes on that bridge. I don’t fairly have the agility that I used to. I nearly ate it at this time!
“On Monday, to have Lee and Rory and Jack and simply stand there with them, that’s historical past proper there. I watched them play this Open. The telecast would come on at 5am to get an opportunity to look at them. We’re going to have these alternatives to speak about issues like that and that’s what makes it so particular.”
Woods may be having fun with the atmosphere of the occasion however the reality of the matter stays he's as aggressive as hickory golf equipment are previous. The drive simply to even get here's what means there isn’t a single rival who will write him off going into tomorrow’s opening spherical.
Woods is set to compete. But for the primary time ever you get the impression that merely competing shall be deemed victory by itself.
He stated: “For probably the most a part of my rehab I used to be simply hoping that I might stroll once more, have a traditional life and possibly play a bit of hit-and-giggle golf with my son or my buddies at residence.
“However lo and behold, I’ve performed championship golf. And as soon as I realised that I might presumably play at a excessive stage, my focus was to get again right here.
“I simply didn’t wish to miss this Open on the House of Golf. It’s laborious to imagine it’s extra historic nevertheless it actually is. It does really feel like that. This does really feel prefer it’s the largest Open Championship we’ve ever had.”