It’s perhaps a good thing that Greg Norman isn’t at the Open Championship because Tiger Woods’ takedown of LIV Golf might have turned his hair white.
Woods also agrees with the R&A’s decision not to invite Norman to Tuesday’s Champions dinner.
“Greg has done some things that I don’t think are in the best interest of our game, and we’re coming back to probably the most historic and traditional place in our sport,” Woods said. “I believe it’s the right thing.”
Woods was asked his thoughts on the rival league and, leaving the popular target of its Saudi-financing alone, the 15-time major champion condemned LIV’s format, players, future, and Norman himself.
“I think that what they’ve done is they’ve turned their back on what has allowed them to get to this position,” Woods said of golfers who have joined. “Some players have never got a chance to even experience it. They’ve gone right from the amateur ranks right into that organization and never really got a chance to play out here and what it feels like to play a tour schedule or to play in some big events.”
Woods’ comments are likely to have young college and amateur stars rethinking their decision after basically telling them they aren’t, and may never actually be able to consider themsleves, tour pros. He also reiterated that LIV players future in major championships is far from guaranteed before laying into the lack of competitive spirit and the 54-hole format.
“What these players are doing for guaranteed money, what is the incentive to practice? What is the incentive to go out there and earn it in the dirt? You’re just getting paid a lot of money up front and playing a few events and playing 54 holes,” he said. “I can understand 54 holes is almost like a mandate when you get to the Senior Tour. The guys are little bit older and a little more banged up. But when you’re at this young age and some of these kids — they really are kids who have gone from amateur golf into that organisation — 72-hole tests are part of it.”
It’s not that the game has passed Tiger by, it’s that he’s afraid it could be passing the next generation by before they even have a chance to experience it.
BIG WEEK FOR COACH
Golf Canada’s national team men’s coach Derek Ingram has had a week to remember.
Corey Conners’ longtime swing coach is in St Andrews fresh off a trip to the Bell Centre in Montreal where his son Adam was drafted in the third round by the Nashville Predators.
“An absolute thrill, it was a dream come true for him,” Ingram said. “My wife and I, just like a lot of Canadian families, we just wanted our kid to play hockey because it’s a long winter, and they fell in love with hockey and golf and it was great for Adam and he’s really thrilled and we’re really proud of him.”
Ingram left Montreal after the draft and flew to the Scottish Open to join Conners, before making the trip to the Old Course.
“It is actually probably the best four or five days of my life,” Ingram said. “Being a Canadian who loves golf and loves hockey and then being so thrilled for my son and really proud of him, and then being here with somebody who I’ve worked for 10 or 11 years, and who is like a son to me.”
TEXAS DREAMS
Will Zalatoris has never been to St Andrews before, but he has some experience with the infamous Road Hole. Or does he?
“In Dallas there’s a place called The Tribute, where they took what they thought were the best 18 holes in Scotland, and they took 1, 18, 17, and I believe No. 11, and put it on the golf course,” he said. “So they put up kind of a shed for the 17th hole, and we would be hitting over the shed. So I would say yes, but no.”
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