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 take a look at, Woods has a ‘new coach’ accompanying him at Pinehurst this week.
That may 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 have now and to increase it into this a part of each of our lives, he’s taking part in plenty of junior golf, and I’m nonetheless taking part in out right here,” Woods stated Tuesday.
“I belief him with my swing and my sport. He’s seen it greater than anyone else on the 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 right now, which was nice as a result of I get so entrenched in hitting sure putts to sure pins I are inclined to overlook among 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. Now we have an incredible 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 right velocity down.
The ‘turtleback’ shapes of those placing surfaces diminish the precise dimension of the greens and in addition ricochet golf balls down beneath the surfaces. That leads gamers to chip from precarious positions whereas forcing them to determine: 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 a number of areas through which I’d putt. There are additionally a number of areas through which I’d 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 a number of woods on the market. I didn’t like the best way that reacted. However among the areas are extra grainy than others. I feel that’s one of many issues, for me specifically, I have to be careful for, is among the chatter that you simply may get developing the hills and the way a lot velocity you’re going to have developing after which over the following ridge.”
Woods and everybody else within the discipline should execute the velocity accurately, or huge numbers loom. It solely takes one gap to smash a championship; simply ask Nelly Korda in regards to the twelfth gap at Lancaster Nation Membership.
“There’s plenty of totally different shot choices, 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 plenty of greens. It relies 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 may 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 regardless of the result.
Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By way of. Remember to try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You possibly can comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as effectively.
