ST. ANDREWS, Scotland – Tiger Woods hustled over the Swilcan Bridge as fast as his repaired legs could muster, removing his hat and saluting the thousands in attendance at the Old Course who rose as one.
There was no pause. No moment of reflection. But as he came down from the cobblestones Rory McIlroy tipped his hat toward Woods. It was then that the moment hit Woods and the tears started to build. This might be the last hurrah, at least at the Old Course, where he’s won two Open Championships.
“It’s very emotional for me. I’ve been coming here since 1995. I think the next one comes around in 2030 so and I don’t know if I will be physically able to play by then. To me it felt like this might have been my last British Open here at St. Andrews,” Woods said after shooting 75 for a two-round total of 9-over 153.
The Old Course is Woods’ unrivaled favorite. He’s said it several times. Even before he dominated it in 2000 and 2005 for two of his three Claret Jugs. Its strategic principles, the way it requires players to plot their way around, its demand for shotmaking and its extensive history are all reasons he loves it.
As Woods continued down the 18th, the throngs of fans found full voice and Justin Thomas and others on the first tee delayed their rounds to show appreciation. Memories of his first trip as an amateur in 1995, when Arnold Palmer said goodbye, flashed through his mind. Then he remembered the roars reserved for Jack Nicklaus years later, which Woods heard from several holes away.
“The fans, the ovation and the warmth, it was an unbelievable feeling. I understand what Jack and Arnold had gone through in the past. I was kind of feeling that way there at the end. …They understand what golf’s all about and what it takes to be an Open champion,” Woods added. “And I’ve been lucky enough and fortunate enough to have won this twice here. … I feel like I will be able to play future British Opens, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to play long enough that when it comes back around here.”
Woods drove just short of the 18th green and chipped close but his putt for one last birdie lipped out. Still, the intensity of the ovation and the respect from his peers made Woods emotional. He looked toward the ground and put his hands to his eyes as the tears welled up.
“As I got closer to the green, … the ovation got louder and you could feel the warmth and you could feel the people from both sides,” he said. “Felt like the whole tournament was right there and they all had appreciated what I’ve done here for the years I’ve played. … I felt like it just came to a head right there as I was walking to my golf ball.”
Woods has been adamant this week that he’s not retiring and that he hopes to compete in future Opens, but he also played just three times this year and said he has no other events on his schedule. The amount of time and effort it takes for him to compete will prevent him from playing more tournaments.
After making the cut at the Masters in April, Woods replicated the feat at the PGA Championship in May. But he struggled in the third round and had to withdraw. He skipped the U.S. Open just to make sure he could find his way to St. Andrews, which Woods said won’t host another Open for eight years.
“I’m not retiring from the game,” Woods added. “It’s a struggle just playing the three events I played this year. That in itself was something I’m very proud of. I was able to play these three events, considering what has transpired.”
As such, Woods said there were no events currently on his calendar.
“Maybe something next year,” he said. “It’s hard just to walk and play 18 holes. People have no idea what I have to go through and the hours of the work on the body, pre and post, each and every single day to do what I just did.”
Here’s a hole-by-hole breakdown of Woods’ second round at The 150th Open, as the three-time Open champion (twice at St. Andrews) made sure to understand, feel and embrace the moment.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
