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 might be his 15-year-old son Charlie.
“I feel having Charlie out right here may be very particular. To have the father-son relationship that we’ve and to increase it into this a part of each of our lives, he’s taking part in loads of junior golf, and I’m nonetheless taking part in out right here,” Woods stated Tuesday.
“I belief him with my swing and my recreation. He’s seen it greater than anyone else on this planet. 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 aspect bits at present, which was nice as a result of I get so entrenched in hitting sure putts to sure pins I are likely to overlook a few of the issues I’m engaged on.
“I simply need to see the balls rolling. He jogs my memory each once in a while, which is nice. We’ve a terrific relationship and rapport like that, and it’s an exquisite expertise for each of us.”
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The greens have develop into the preeminent matter at Pinehurst No. 2 this week, so Woods has spent ample time making certain he has the correct pace down.
The ‘turtleback’ shapes of those placing surfaces diminish the precise measurement of the greens and likewise 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? In that case, with what membership? A wedge? 3-wood? 4-iron?
“There are just a few areas by which I might putt. There are additionally just a few areas by which I might 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 just a few woods on the market. I didn’t like the way in which that reacted. However a few of the areas are extra grainy than others. I feel that’s one of many issues, for me specifically, I must be careful for, is a few of the chatter that you just would possibly get arising the hills and the way a lot pace you’re going to have arising after which over the subsequent ridge.”
Woods and everybody else within the subject should execute the pace appropriately, or large numbers loom. It solely takes one gap to damage a championship; simply ask Nelly Korda in regards to the twelfth gap at Lancaster Nation Membership.
“There’s loads of completely different shot alternatives, and the grain goes to play a giant a part of it,” Woods additional defined.
“The previous couple of days taking part in observe rounds—I’m responsible in addition to the remainder of the blokes I’ve performed with—we’ve putted off loads of greens. It will depend on how extreme the USGA needs to make this and the way shut they need to get us as much as these sides. However I foresee, identical 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. However 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 Enjoying By. Be sure you try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You possibly can observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as nicely.