While we now ponder when and not if Tiger Woods will return to competition, we hear Woods is clearly strong enough to again call for a curbing of the driver clubface given the golf ball continues to sky-rocket.
It’s just two days short of a year of Woods’ near-fatal car crash in suburban LA and who’d have thought we’d be talking Woods and golf given the sight of his totally wrecked Genesis Invitational SUV. First pictures of what was Woods’ courtesy car drew gasps as to how anyone escaped alive from the multiple roll-overs but the 15-time major winner did, not only with surgeons brilliantly saving his right leg but with strong hopes Woods will return to competition. Now the only mystery remains when.
Many questions were asked of Woods at last week’s hosting of the Genesis Invitational and particularly when Woods will tee-up again on the regular PGA Tour competition. We’ve reported Woods will attend April’s Masters ‘Former Champions Dinner’ at Augusta National and also tee-up in the Par-3 Contest on the eve of the Masters.
It means all going well for Woods, he could travel to St. Andrews for July’s 150th Anniversary Open Championship, if not to compete, hopefully, he’ll be strong enough to partake in the Monday four-hole ‘Former Open Winner’s Challenge’ on the Old Course and attend the ‘Past Open Champions Dinner’ on Tuesday night in the R&A clubhouse.
And while Woods has not teed up in a full PGA Tour event since missing the cut in the 2020 US Open, held that year in September, he’s not been as uncertain in again calling for the driver to be ‘dialled back’.
Woods comments in speaking to six-time major winner Nick Faldo around if he felt the current big-headed drivers were ‘advantageous for the game of golf’ come after Irish Golfer Magazine had the scoop story on February 1st from fellow Masters winner Adam Scott also calling for ‘golf’s decision-makers to shrink the head size of the driver.
Wood said: “I think it would be advantageous for the game of golf if we did that.
“I personally don’t want to see the amateurs lose the excitement of going out there and playing long and have the forgiveness. But also just add spin to the golf ball. That’s a way to shorten it up as well.
“You saw it at the PNC Challenge. I can still hit it out there. Maybe not like some of these guys. You know, when they step on it, they’ve got that gear for 340 in the air.
“When I first came out on Tour, if you got it to 300, you’re great. Then it’s 320 and now the new number with Bryson doing the things he’s doing, he can step on it and carry 340. I think kids that are at these guys’ age or younger understand how to use the ground, how to explode, and how to time it up just right.
“And you all have all the technology and the clubheads and the ball and the shafts and you can marry that up and optimise your driving ability and really take advantage of driving. Because I think at the end of the day, people that drive the ball far are kind of where it’s going. You have to be able to get it out there.”
When Woods talks the golf world listens and given what both Woods and Scott are saying, you would hope it is being noted within the walls of those organisations administering and ruling on the game.
For more on the above and more, Listen to this weeks Irish Golfer Podcast
Leave a comment