Tiger Woods began preparations for the Open Championship next week, playing an 18-hole practice round at Royal Troon Golf Club on Sunday, per ESPN’s Mark Schlabach.
According to Schlabach, the 48-year-old practiced chipping and putting while also trying to chip out of deep pot bunkers around the greens. Schlabach said that Woods looked strong in the practice round after flying in from Florida overnight.
Tony Finau, Lucas Glover and Jason Day also played the course on Sunday, though Woods walked the course along with his caddie, Lance Bennett.
Woods has struggled in recent majors, missing the cut or withdrawing in five of his last six starts. He made the cut at the Masters in April but finished near the bottom of the leaderboards in 60th after carding a 16-over 304—his worst 72-hole score in a professional event.
In his latest appearance at the US Open in June, he missed the cut after carding a 3-over 73 in the second round. He was just two strokes away from advancing while playing on a special exemption from the United States Golf Association.
While he’s historically had success at the Open Championship, winning the event in 2000, 2005 and 2006, he’s missed the cut at his previous two appearances in 2022 and 2019. His best showing at the Open Championship in recent years came in 2018 when he finished sixth.
After competing in just four events this year, Woods said in June that the Open Championship will be his final PGA Tour event this season.
“I’ve only got one more tournament this season,” Woods said, per Schlabach. “Even if I win the British Open, I don’t think I’ll be in the [FedEx Cup] playoffs. Just one more event and then I’ll come back whenever I come back.”
The Open Championship begins on Thursday, when Woods will look to have a better showing than his pervious starts this season.
