Tiger Woods says he was determined to make next week’s Open Championship because he wants “one more run at a high level” at capturing the Claret Jug at St Andrews.
The 15-time major champion, who has secured two of his three Open wins at the "Home of Golf", returns next week to the scene of his 2000 and 2005 triumphs, when the sport’s oldest major celebrates its 150th anniversary.
Woods has played in only two full-field competitive events since a life-threatening car crash in February last year, having made a shock return at the Masters in April before then teeing it up at the US PGA Championship in May.
However, Woods was forced to withdraw from the season's second major after the third round, and sat out the US Open last month as he continues his full recovery from serious injuries sustained to his right leg.
However, the American, 46, had always targeted the Open at St Andrews, which takes place July 14-17.
Speaking on Tuesday following the JP McManus Pro-Am in Ireland, Woods said: "The plan was to play the US Open. But physically I was not able to do that. No way physically I could have done that. I had some issues physically with my leg and it would have put [the Open] in jeopardy. There’s no reason to do that.
"This is a pretty historical Open we are going to be playing. I’m lucky enough to be part of the past champions who have won there and want to play there again. I don’t know when they are ever going to go back while I’m still able to play at a high level. And I want to be able to give it at least one more run at a high level."
Last year’s single-vehicle accident outside Los Angeles threw Woods’ golfing future into serious doubt – he conceded as much last November - only for the former world No 1 to return to the Masters and finish 47th.
Woods also made the cut at the PGA Championship, but was clearly struggling with his right leg at Southern Hills before deciding to pull out. At the JP McManus Pro-Am, he used a golf cart at times to get around Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort in County Limerick.
"I’ve gotten a lot stronger since the PGA, that’s for sure," Woods said. "I’ve been able to put in a lot more reps, which is great. I still prefer riding in a cart. I’m doing that here only because I don’t need to push it right now.
"I’ve got a long week ahead of me and all of next week to do that. Save the legs. We can still train as hard as we do each and every day. But as far as duration on my feet, let’s try and keep that to a minimum until we have to. And then when we have to, let’s go."
Asked how long he believed he could be competitive at the Open beyond this year, Woods replied: "If you would have asked me last year if I’d play golf again, all of my surgeons would have said no.
“But here I am playing, and I’ve had played two major championships this year. I will always be able to play golf, whether it’s this leg or ... different body pieces that have been replaced or fused.
"But if you say championship level, that’s a totally different story. That window is not as long as I would like it to be."
Woods won the Open at St Andrews in 2000 by eight shots, in the process completing the career Grand Slam at age 24 - the youngest of the five golfers to have done so. He prevailed again at the Old Course five years later, finishing five strokes ahead of second-placed Colin Montgomerie.
Jewel of the Expo 2020
252 projectors installed on Al Wasl dome
13.6km of steel used in the structure that makes it equal in length to 16 Burj Khalifas
550 tonnes of moulded steel were raised last year to cap the dome
724,000 cubic metres is the space it encloses
Stands taller than the leaning tower of Pisa
Steel trellis dome is one of the largest single structures on site
The size of 16 tennis courts and weighs as much as 500 elephants
Al Wasl means connection in Arabic
World’s largest 360-degree projection surface
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
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Afro%20salons
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The bio:
Favourite film:
Declan: It was The Commitments but now it’s Bohemian Rhapsody.
Heidi: The Long Kiss Goodnight.
Favourite holiday destination:
Declan: Las Vegas but I also love getting home to Ireland and seeing everyone back home.
Heidi: Australia but my dream destination would be to go to Cuba.
Favourite pastime:
Declan: I love brunching and socializing. Just basically having the craic.
Heidi: Paddleboarding and swimming.
Personal motto:
Declan: Take chances.
Heidi: Live, love, laugh and have no regrets.
Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
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Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Gentlemen
Director: Guy Ritchie
Stars: Colin Farrell, Hugh Grant
Three out of five stars
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday Stuttgart v Cologne (Kick-off 10.30pm UAE)
Saturday RB Leipzig v Hertha Berlin (5.30pm)
Mainz v Borussia Monchengladbach (5.30pm)
Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm)
Union Berlin v SC Freiburg (5.30pm)
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (5.30pm)
Sunday Wolfsburg v Arminia (6.30pm)
Werder Bremen v Hoffenheim (9pm)
Bayer Leverkusen v Augsburg (11.30pm)
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
Retail gloom
Online grocer Ocado revealed retail sales fell 5.7 per cen in its first quarter as customers switched back to pre-pandemic shopping patterns.
It was a tough comparison from a year earlier, when the UK was in lockdown, but on a two-year basis its retail division, a joint venture with Marks&Spencer, rose 31.7 per cent over the quarter.
The group added that a 15 per cent drop in customer basket size offset an 11.6. per cent rise in the number of customer transactions.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
