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Bouncing Along: Westwood and Woods Bouncing Along: Westwood and Woods
(35 minutes later)
GULLANE, Scotland — Tiger Woods’s latest bid for a 15th major championship gained speed Friday at the British Open on Muirfield grounds better suited for pilots landing planes than golfers steering many-dimpled balls.GULLANE, Scotland — Tiger Woods’s latest bid for a 15th major championship gained speed Friday at the British Open on Muirfield grounds better suited for pilots landing planes than golfers steering many-dimpled balls.
Woods posted an even-par 71 for a 36-hole score of two-under 140, one stroke behind Miguel Ángel Jiménez (71). Tied for second with Woods are Henrik Stenson (70), Dustin Johnson (72) and Lee Westwood, who gave three strokes back to par on the final six holes and still carded a 68 to match his playing partner, Charl Schwartzel, for the low round of the day.Woods posted an even-par 71 for a 36-hole score of two-under 140, one stroke behind Miguel Ángel Jiménez (71). Tied for second with Woods are Henrik Stenson (70), Dustin Johnson (72) and Lee Westwood, who gave three strokes back to par on the final six holes and still carded a 68 to match his playing partner, Charl Schwartzel, for the low round of the day.
A heat wave has left the fabled layout’s fairways and greens baked to a crisp, and the course’s setup has made the blood of many of the players boil. Ernie Els, who won the tournament last year and when it was last here, in 2002, carded his second consecutive 74 and all but begged the R&A, which runs the event, to water the course.A heat wave has left the fabled layout’s fairways and greens baked to a crisp, and the course’s setup has made the blood of many of the players boil. Ernie Els, who won the tournament last year and when it was last here, in 2002, carded his second consecutive 74 and all but begged the R&A, which runs the event, to water the course.
“It’s a pretty tough battle out there,” said Els, who was at six over, making the cut with two strokes to spare. Rory McIlroy, the world No. 2, missed the cut by four with scores of 79-75. Brandt Snedeker, who finished third at last year’s British Open, chased his opening 68 with a 79 and said he was “constantly frustrated.”“It’s a pretty tough battle out there,” said Els, who was at six over, making the cut with two strokes to spare. Rory McIlroy, the world No. 2, missed the cut by four with scores of 79-75. Brandt Snedeker, who finished third at last year’s British Open, chased his opening 68 with a 79 and said he was “constantly frustrated.”
Woods, like Westwood and Stenson, played in the morning, which allowed him to survive to laugh about the challenge that Muirfield presented. Asked how many drivers he hit on a day when his sand wedge was traveling 180 yards on the roll, he said, “Eight or 10.”Woods, like Westwood and Stenson, played in the morning, which allowed him to survive to laugh about the challenge that Muirfield presented. Asked how many drivers he hit on a day when his sand wedge was traveling 180 yards on the roll, he said, “Eight or 10.”
Woods maintained a straight face for another beat or two, then added, “On the range.”Woods maintained a straight face for another beat or two, then added, “On the range.”
Woods and Westwood have more in common than their 36-hole score. Westwood began a dialogue with Woods’s swing coach, Sean Foley, at the Memorial in May. Westwood had resolved to work with him before Justin Rose, another player coached by Foley and a compatriot of Westwood’s, won his first major title last month at the United States Open.Woods and Westwood have more in common than their 36-hole score. Westwood began a dialogue with Woods’s swing coach, Sean Foley, at the Memorial in May. Westwood had resolved to work with him before Justin Rose, another player coached by Foley and a compatriot of Westwood’s, won his first major title last month at the United States Open.
Rose broke his maiden in his 33rd major as a professional, though he missed the cut here. Westwood is 0 for 61. Not that anyone in Britain is counting.Rose broke his maiden in his 33rd major as a professional, though he missed the cut here. Westwood is 0 for 61. Not that anyone in Britain is counting.
In a summer when Rose won the United States Open, Andy Murray triumphed at Wimbledon and Chris Froome has brought Britain to the cusp of a second consecutive Tour de France title, karma would seem to be draped in the Union Jack.In a summer when Rose won the United States Open, Andy Murray triumphed at Wimbledon and Chris Froome has brought Britain to the cusp of a second consecutive Tour de France title, karma would seem to be draped in the Union Jack.
“There’s definitely a feel-good factor in Britain,” Westwood said. He added, “I’m just concentrating on what I’ve got going on at the moment.”“There’s definitely a feel-good factor in Britain,” Westwood said. He added, “I’m just concentrating on what I’ve got going on at the moment.”
Woods’s focus has always been the four majors, but he has come up empty since winning the 2008 United States Open. Not that anyone in the golf world is counting.Woods’s focus has always been the four majors, but he has come up empty since winning the 2008 United States Open. Not that anyone in the golf world is counting.
“I’ve had chances on the back nine of many of those Sundays,” said Woods, who has recorded second-, third- or fourth-place finishes in every major during the winless streak. “Just one of those things where I haven’t gotten it.”“I’ve had chances on the back nine of many of those Sundays,” said Woods, who has recorded second-, third- or fourth-place finishes in every major during the winless streak. “Just one of those things where I haven’t gotten it.”
Woods, 37, is one of golf’s great clutch performers, but in recent years his bravado has developed cracks under stress. On Friday, Woods talked about what was going through his mind as he stood over a 5-foot par putt on the eighth hole. “I felt left-center, but I kept looking at it and I felt more dead-straight-to-center,” he said. “And then maybe I need to play left-center because the wind is blowing, it’s coming off my left, going to move it down the hill.”Woods, 37, is one of golf’s great clutch performers, but in recent years his bravado has developed cracks under stress. On Friday, Woods talked about what was going through his mind as he stood over a 5-foot par putt on the eighth hole. “I felt left-center, but I kept looking at it and I felt more dead-straight-to-center,” he said. “And then maybe I need to play left-center because the wind is blowing, it’s coming off my left, going to move it down the hill.”
The power of the mind is such that whether a golfer believes he has the right line or the wrong line, he is usually right. So is it any wonder that when Woods finally struck the putt, he blocked it and made a bogey? The power of the mind is such that whether golfers believe they have the right line or the wrong line, they are usually right. So is it any wonder that when Woods finally struck the putt, he blocked it and made a bogey?
If Woods can quiet the chatter in his head, watch out. Graeme McDowell, who played alongside Woods the first two days, said, “If he continues to play the way he’s playing, he’s going to be tough to beat.”If Woods can quiet the chatter in his head, watch out. Graeme McDowell, who played alongside Woods the first two days, said, “If he continues to play the way he’s playing, he’s going to be tough to beat.”
McDowell, who matched Woods’s second-round 71 to make the cut at four over, said there were moments when he found himself admiring Woods’s shots as if he were outside the ropes. “It’s like, ‘Do I have to follow that?’ ” he said with a laugh.McDowell, who matched Woods’s second-round 71 to make the cut at four over, said there were moments when he found himself admiring Woods’s shots as if he were outside the ropes. “It’s like, ‘Do I have to follow that?’ ” he said with a laugh.
Someone reminded McDowell, the 2010 United States Open champion, that he has more major titles in the past four years than Woods. “Hadn’t thought about it that way,” he said. “Maybe I should have.”Someone reminded McDowell, the 2010 United States Open champion, that he has more major titles in the past four years than Woods. “Hadn’t thought about it that way,” he said. “Maybe I should have.”
Westwood recently turned 40, and like many who reach that milestone, he said the birthday prompted him to think about his life differently. In the past five years, Westwood has finished second or third in majors six times. But all he hears is how he has not won one.Westwood recently turned 40, and like many who reach that milestone, he said the birthday prompted him to think about his life differently. In the past five years, Westwood has finished second or third in majors six times. But all he hears is how he has not won one.
With every passing year, Westwood appreciates that his window for winning a major is closing. But instead of looking at it as if time were running out, he says he feels that the past 20 years have been leading to something special.With every passing year, Westwood appreciates that his window for winning a major is closing. But instead of looking at it as if time were running out, he says he feels that the past 20 years have been leading to something special.
“I know my game is good enough to win when I play well enough,” he has said, adding, “So that’s what I try to do. After that, it’s out of your hands.”“I know my game is good enough to win when I play well enough,” he has said, adding, “So that’s what I try to do. After that, it’s out of your hands.”
Even before Westwood began working with Foley, he had embraced Foley’s guiding philosophy. As described by Foley, it is: “Life isn’t about what other people think. It’s about how you feel about you.”Even before Westwood began working with Foley, he had embraced Foley’s guiding philosophy. As described by Foley, it is: “Life isn’t about what other people think. It’s about how you feel about you.”
Foley has fixed Westwood’s setup, which had gotten out of alignment, but he had nothing to do with Westwood’s brilliance this week on the greens. For that, Westwood credited his Florida neighbor, Ian Baker-Finch, who won the 1991 British Open on the strength of a putting stroke that was the envy of his peers.Foley has fixed Westwood’s setup, which had gotten out of alignment, but he had nothing to do with Westwood’s brilliance this week on the greens. For that, Westwood credited his Florida neighbor, Ian Baker-Finch, who won the 1991 British Open on the strength of a putting stroke that was the envy of his peers.
While observing Baker-Finch on the greens when they practiced together, Westwood realized he was gripping his putter too tight. With less tension in his arms, Westwood said he had more control of his stroke. Westwood has likened it to putting the way he did when he was 10 years old, which is as good an explanation as any for why he is having a ball on greens other players have suggested are so tricky they might as well come with windmills and clowns’ mouths.While observing Baker-Finch on the greens when they practiced together, Westwood realized he was gripping his putter too tight. With less tension in his arms, Westwood said he had more control of his stroke. Westwood has likened it to putting the way he did when he was 10 years old, which is as good an explanation as any for why he is having a ball on greens other players have suggested are so tricky they might as well come with windmills and clowns’ mouths.
“Why not enjoy it out there?” Westwood said. “It’s tough for everybody. So smile your way through.”“Why not enjoy it out there?” Westwood said. “It’s tough for everybody. So smile your way through.”