Tiger Woods was in good spirits in his press conference ahead of the 2024 US Open.
The 15-time Major winner has won this championship three times (2000, 2002 and 2008) and is seeking his 16th Major victory this year. Woods made a record 23rd consecutive cut at The Masters in April before missing the cut at the PGA Championship.
Woods was confident in his body and said he feels like he has the strength to play all four days but it's "just a matter of doing it." The American great will be faced with an easier walk than Augusta and Vahalla but admits that the real test this week will be the mental discipline required with the demanding Pinehurst greens combined with the heat and the likelihood of long rounds.
The 48-year-old has had his son Charlie out with him all week and spoke glowingly about his 15-year-old son's ability to help him out with his putting stroke, almost to the extent where Woods Jnr could be his new putting coach.
"I trust him with my swing and game. He's seen me hit more golf balls than anyone. I tell him what to look for, especially with putting," Woods said.
"He gave me a couple of side bits today which was great. I get so entrenched with hitting certain putts to different pins, I forget what I'm working on."
Charlie has been enjoying watching the pros who he sees on TV and YouTube this week, Tiger said.
Woods also gave a very positive update on the recent PGA Tour/PIF meeting in New York, where he said both sides are working hard towards an "end game."
"We discussed a lot of different endings and how we get there. I think that both sides walked away from the meeting, we all felt very positive in that meeting," he said.
Hello and welcome to live updates from Tiger Woods' press conference here at Pinehurst No.2. Let's hear what Woods has to say!
TIGER WOODS BEEN OUT THIS MORNING
Woods has been practising on the course this morning alongside Min Woo Lee and Max Homa. His son Charlie has been out alongside him for third consecutive day.
WOODS US OPEN TEE TIME
Woods plays with Matt Fitzpatrick and Will Zalatoris in the first two rounds.
They're off at 7:29 a.m. local time on Thursday and 1:14 p.m on Friday.
TIGER IN ACTION YESTERDAY...
Looking good, but he always does!
.@TigerWoods. Pinehurst No. 2. U.S. Open. Doesn't get much better than this. #Qi10Driver #TeamTaylorMade pic.twitter.com/UfvNJoj11sJune 10, 2024
WOODS' US OPEN RESULTS
It's hard to believe but Woods has not had a top-10 finish in the US Open for 14 years, when he was T4th at Pebble Beach in 2010.
Amazingly, this is his first US Open start since 2020 - meaning this is his first US Open with fans in five years. I bet he's itching to get going.
TIGER A LITTLE LATE FOR HIS PRESS CONFERENCE
Woods was supposed to be here five minutes ago, and we've got Viktor Hovland scheduled in ten minutes' time so this may be brief.
Still no sign of the great man just yet.
WOODS' SPECIAL INVITATION
Tiger actually didn't qualify for the US Open this year - and going forward it's the only Major he isn't qualified for next year either.
He has lifetime exemptions into The Masters and PGA Championship, and is exempt into The Open until the age of 60.
He accepted a special invite into this year's championship and should rely on a few more over the coming years. Jack Nicklaus received eight during his career.
WOODS RECEIVING BOB JONES AWARD TODAY
Tiger Woods will receive the Bob Jones Award later today at a ceremony in the Village of Pinehurst.
The award is the USGA’s highest honor, in recognition of his commitment to sportsmanship and respect for golf’s time-honored traditions.
STILL NO SIGN OF TIGER
No sign of Woods still. His press conference was due to begin at 10am local time, ten minutes ago.
Viktor Hovland is due in the interview room in five minutes' time so we're a little bit delayed here.
NO TIGER
Woods is a no-show for his press conference - not sure why. Viktor Hovland is now in...I might as well keep you updated on that?
HOVLAND ON SCHEFFLER
"He seems to bring 'that' game every single week."
"Taking his consistency to another level. His average week is "really, really good".
"Makes me work harder and motivates me."
HOVLAND ON CHIP OR PUTT FROM OFF THE GREEN
Says he'll hit "a decent amount of putts."
Certain slopes that are so steep.
Over the green on 8, drop off is so severe. Can get cocky but off by a little bit and you're gonna look like a fool.
An average of 20 shots, putter is going to be way better than the chip is.
Going to putt in "a lot of spots."
"60/40 with putter," he says.
LOVES PINEHURST DESIGN AND ITS CHALLENGE
How golf courses should be designed, the best way possible to design greens.
Some of the pins look a little suspect but will be interesting to see how that plays out.
Very high value of hitting greens.
Got to have some touch on the greens.
SAYS BALLS ARE ROLLING OFF THE GREEN
Some of the pins are a little bit close to the drop-offs.
Says he was putting to pin positions from 2014 and missing low and a little too fast and balls were running off the greens, even running off into bushes.
Borderline yesterday, what if the wind starts blowing and the greens get firmer and faster?
REMEMBER HOVLAND NEARLY WITHDREW FROM PGA CHAMPIONSHIP?
Says it went from "Not wanting to show up to a golf tournament to 'wow I just nearly won a Major without my best stuff.'"
Hopes in the future he gets a Major "done."
ON SCHEFFLER:
Hits it very straight, it's very reliable. A lot of guys are impressive but it's not about how good your good shots is, it's how good your bad shots are.
He's playing the game where his bad shots are still good.
Couple that with a really high level short game, it's easy to play golf.
HOVLAND ON SWING FEELS:
Ideally you don't want to start the week off by trying to find a feel.
Then it's a matter of purely getting to know the golf course, where you want to hit it, where you want to miss it. Getting to know the speed and grass.
Optimally you don't want to think about technique when you're out here trying to win a Major championship.
Hopefully you spend as little time as possible trying to manicure the golf swing to find a feel.
You want to obviously be on a trajectory that makes you improve over time but also play the best golf you can right now. If there's a feel that makes you play better, now you've got to find a feel that's the easiest thing to think about when you play golf as all of that stuff goes out the window when you're playing in a tournament.
JON RAHM IS COMING IN NOW, TIGER WOODS AFTER
RAHM HAS JUST GOT HERE
Rahm was injured last week with a foot/toe issue. He's loving Pinehurst and the transition from the grassy Pinehurst to the updated sandy redesign.
FOOT IS A CONCERN
"It's a concern. It's doing better but definitely still in pain"
RAHM ON SCHEFFLER
It's quite incredible to see what he's been able to accomplish.
Every year there's been great ball strikers come up but when you start getting compared to Tiger that's where you know it's special.
To win five in a season and the tournaments he's winning, you're basically replicating a Tiger Woods season.
As a competitor it's an added motivation. As a golf fan it's absolutely incredible to watch.
ON HIS CHANCES
"Any time I tee it up I feel like I have a good chance."
Very brief answer from Rahm.
RAHM ON SCHEFFLER AGAIN:
It doesn't seem like anything is wrong. Based on what he's been doing the last few years if he can just stay around even on SG: putting he can have a season like this.
When somebody is that good it's what's in between the ears that's the biggest asset.
RAHM ON PUTTING AROUND THE GREENS:
Hasn't stepped foot on the golf course yet.
It's hard to say. Definitely a golf course you need to know where to miss more than most. Doesn't think any up-and-down is easy but there are some spots where you have a chance.
Saw Kaymer use the putter. In 99 when Tiger was using fairways, Phil using wedges. Says whatever you're comfortable with.
DO YOU NEED TO BE LESS AGGRESSIVE?
You need to pick a target where you want that ball to end up and be committed and aggressive to that spot, and a lot of times that means playing away from the pin.
ON INJURY
Calls it a lesion on the skin. It's a "little hole" in between his pinky toe and the next toe.
Doesn't know how it happened but it got infected, says the pain was high. Had a shot to numb in on Saturday that was supposed to last the entire round and it was in pain by the 2nd hole.
He walked into press conference in flip flops, I think he said, to keep air to it.
Doesn't know how it will be this week.
ON DAVID AND EUGENIO (LIV SPANIARDS)
Didn't meet Eugenio until LIV Golf. Both standout Spanish college players.
It's really impressive what they've both done to play themselves into tournaments with limited world ranking opportunities.
When you have only certain opportunities it's easy to put pressure on yourself. They're both more than talented to have a long career.
ON HIS CAREER HAPPINESS
Yeah I'm in a happy place.
Says "Unfortunately" Majors weren't his best showings.
"Been a wonderful career so far. Hasn't been the best first half of the year. There's been many times I haven't had a great start but doesn't mean you can't have a good finish."
WOODS IS HERE!
ON HIS BODY
Yeah I do, I feel like I have the strength to go and do it.
Just a matter of doing it.
Says the mental discipline is going to be key. Going to "take a lot" and says he's been working on it and understanding the game plan.
SINCE THE PGA...
We've been always working on fitness. Did a little bit of work on chipping and putting but nothing can simulate what we have here this particular week. The amount of little shots and the knobs and run offs, using wedges and long irons, putts.
So many different shots you can't simulate unless you're on the property.
Says that's why he got here so early.
ON HEAT AND PACE OF PLAY
It's gonna feel like home. Hot and humid is what we deal with in Florida, it's nothing new.
Mental tax, keeping hydrated are key, he says.
It's gonna make for long rounds with the fall-offs and run-offs around the greens. Says rounds will be long and combined with heat will be the challenge.
Prefers it hotter.
ON PIF MEETING
It was productive.
Is there light at the end of the tunnel? Closer to that point than pre-meeting. Discussed a lot of different endings and how we get there. Both sides walked away from the meeting "positive."
Both sides looking at different ways to get to the "end game" and both sides shared a "deep passion" on how to get there.
Yes there will be a difference of opinion "but we all want the same thing."
ON BOB JONES AWARD
Anytime you're in association with Mr Jones is just incredible. What he did in his amateur career and then obviously creating Augusta National.
Says it's "very special."
Been able to play in USGA championships since the age of 14. Tonight "is going to be very special"
HOW COURSE HAS CHANGED VS 1999/2005
All different. I played it under bent grass so bermuda is very different, it's grainy.
We didn't have the grains during those Opens, they were softer than they are now.
The greens were not like they are now vs 2005.
Shot selections around the greens "more plentiful"
The grain is going to play "a bit part."
"I'm guilty as well, we've putted off a lot of greens."
Could watch the guys play "ping pong back and forth"
ON CHARLIE
Very special.
Neat for him to see the guys he watched on TV and YouTube and Tik Tok.
He's with JT and Rick a lot at home but to see other guys hit the golf ball it doesn't do it justice in person.
Was excited to watch Max and Min Woo today, says he spoke a lot to Min Woo.
His responsibilities? I trust him with my swing and game. He's seen me hit more golf balls than anyone. I tell him what to look for, especially with putting. He gave me a couple of side bits today which was great. I get so entrenched with hitting certain putts to different pins, I forget what I'm working on. Says relationship and rapport is great.
AROUND THE GREENS
Says he's used 4-iron, didn't like woods.
Needs to watch out for the grain and "chatter", how much speed you're gonna have coming up the ridges. The beauty of playing Donald Ross courses, says renovation has been "amazing."
When Donald did this golf course and made the greens this severe, I don't think he intended them to be running 13 on the stimp. We're playing under faster conditions so it's more of a test.
"A war of attrition"
ON PINEHURST CHANGES AGAIN:
Off the tee it's about the same, more native and open looking.
From 05 and what I saw in 14, there's a bit of a change but no big deal. Surrounds significantly different bent to bermuda. Joking it might be that they're so slick that the putter slips, has that kind of look and sheen. Could get shiny by Sunday.
It has the look and feel that this could be one of the Opens that whatever the leading score is, that's as low as we'll go at the end of the first day.
THAT'S IT FOLKS
Tiger is over and out.
Seemed in very good spirits and happy with where his body is. Just like everyone else, Woods thinks it's going to be a high scoring Open with the greens being the main factor.
Also very interesting that Charlie is seemingly his putting coach. The trust and belief he has in Charlie is very nice to hear.
A special start to the week for the Woods family. pic.twitter.com/bAwX2r7A3jJune 11, 2024
WOODS ON HIS STRENGTH
"Yeah, I do. I feel like I have the strength to be able to do it. It's just a matter of doing it. This golf course is going to test every single aspect of your game, especially mentally, and just the mental discipline that it takes to play this particular golf course, it's going to take a lot. We've been working on that and making sure that I understand the game plan and be ready in two more days."
WHAT HE'S BEEN WORKING ON
"Oh, we've been always working on fitness. Fitness is always a part of it. I did a little bit of work on chipping and putting. But nothing can simulate what we have here this particular week, the amount of little shots and the knobs and run-offs, and either using wedges or long irons or woods around the greens or even putter.
"There's so many different shots that you really can't simulate unless you get on the property. That's one of the reasons I came up here last Tuesday, to be able to try and do that. Quite a bit of work. The golf course has firmed up and gotten faster since then. Even this week, even with the rain we had the other night, the golf course is still faster."
ON THE HEAT
"It's like home. Hot and humid is what we deal with every single day at home in Florida, so that's nothing new. It's just making sure that I keep hydrated and the mental tax that the heat will bring.
"It's going to bring it to all of us, not just me. Everyone is going to be tested. It's going to make for long rounds with the falloffs and run-offs on the greens. The rounds time-wise are going to be a little bit longer. Then when you're out in the heat for that length and period of time, that's going to take a little bit of wear and tear on you."
ON LAST WEEK'S PIF MEETING
"It was productive. And is there light at the end of tunnel? I think we're closer to that point than we were pre-meeting. We discussed a lot of different endings and how we get there. I think that both sides walked away from the meeting, we all felt very positive in that meeting.
"As I said, both sides were looking at different ways to get to the end game. I think that both sides shared a deep passion for how we need to get there. And yes, there are going to be differences of opinion, but we all want the same thing."
ON RECEIVING THE BOB JONES AWARD (CEREMONY LATER TODAY)
"Well, I think anytime you're in association with Mr. Jones, it's always incredible. What he did in his amateur career, winning the Ams and the Opens and then obviously creating Augusta National, the fact that I get a chance to be honored with his award tonight, it's very special.
"I've been able to play in this - not in this championship, but in the USGA championships - since I was 14 years old. It's been a long time, and I've always enjoyed it on all levels. Tonight is going to be very special."
ON CHIPPING/PUTTING AROUND THE GREENS, SAYS WE COULD SEE SOME 'PING PONG'
"Yeah, it's all different. I played it under bentgrass. So now having Bermuda, it's very different. It's grainy. We had the grain on the greens during those Open Championships, and they were softer than they are now.
"Granted, I know the surrounds were burnt out in '05, but the greens were not like what they are right now. That's very different. The shot selections around the greens I think are more plentiful this year from either putting it to wedging it.
"As you said, 6- or 7-irons. I've used long irons and woods around the greens, and I've seen a number of guys do the same thing. There's a lot of different shot selections, and the grain is going to play a big part of it.
"The last few days playing practice rounds - I'm guilty as well as the rest of the guys I've played with - we've putted off a lot of greens. It depends how severe the USGA wants to make this and how close they want to get us up to those sides.
"But I foresee just like in '05 watching some of the guys play ping-pong back and forth. It could happen."
ON HAVING CHARLIE OUT WITH HIM
"Well, I think having Charlie out here is very special. To have the father-son relationship that we have and to extend it into this part of both of our lives, he's playing a lot of junior golf, and I'm still playing out here. It's neat for him to see the guys that he watches on TV and YouTube and TikTok, whatever the hell it is that they do.
"At home he's with JT and Rick a lot. But to see other guys hit the golf ball, it doesn't really do it justice until you actually see it in person. He was very excited today to watch Max and Min Woo and watch them hit golf balls. They've talked to him quite a bit, especially Min Woo and him. I think they're closer in age than I am to anybody else.
"It's great. It's great for us to be able to share these moments together.
"As far as his responsibilities, it's the same. I trust him with my swing and my game. He's seen it more than anybody else in the world. He's seen me hit more golf balls than anyone. I tell him what to look for, especially with putting.
"He gave me a couple little side bits today, which was great, because I get so entrenched in hitting certain putts to certain pins, I tend to forget some of the things I'm working on. I just want to see the balls rolling.
"He reminds me every now and again, which is great. We have a great relationship and rapport like that, and it's a wonderful experience for both of us."
WOODS' PRESS CONFERENCE IN FULL:
Hear from three-time champion Tiger Woods 🎙️He discusses his preparation for the week, thoughts on Pinehurst, having Charlie here and more. pic.twitter.com/NFktGCx2KpJune 11, 2024
