‘It’s going to be fun’: Tiger Woods energized, in contention at The Open
Shaun Norris has seen a lot in professional golf since 2002, traveling Asia and Europe, winning twice on the Japan Tour. When he grabbed the last of three qualifying spots for The Open Championship at the Joburg Open 2017 in his native South Africa, he probably thought his life couldn’t get any more exciting.
That was before Saturday, when he found himself paired with a famous American in the third round of the 147th Open Championship at Carnoustie Golf Links. But even seeing “Tiger Woods” next to his own name on the pairing sheet didn’t prepare Norris for what he was about to experience.
“Amazing” is how the strapping 36-year-old described walking Caroustie’s brown fairways and watching Woods – 10 years removed from his last major championship, struggling the past five years with a string of injuries – turn back the clock to a better, exciting time.
Woods, who last led an Open when he won at Hoylake in 2006, briefly held a share of the day’s top spot before a bogey at the par-3 16th stalled his momentum. But he had no complaints. After not being a factor in a major for so long, it was clear this was energizing.
“That was good. That was good,” the 42-year-old Woods said, his famed smile beaming, after his charge up the leader board courtesy of his 5-under 66. “I played well today, I really did.
“I didn’t want to be too far back if the (other) guys got to 10-under par today. I had to stay within reach.”
He grinned again. “Five (in fact, four shots) is definitely within reach.”
This day was a reminder, to himself as much as to anyone else, of what life was like during Tiger’s heyday, when he won 14 majors from 1997-2008 as competitors kept one eye on the leaderboards to see where he lurked. Norris, up close and personal for it all, spoke in awe of the round.
“He was on top of his game, swinging well, putting well,” Norris said, seemingly unaware of his own 2-under 69. “I was nervous as hell at first. But I learned a lot from him today.”
Mostly, Norris got a lesson in what it’s like to walk alongside a golfing legend, followed by throngs of adoring, golf-crazed Scots. They swarmed along the fairways, cries of “Go, Ti-gah!” ringing through the bright blue sky.
Seemingly miles behind second-round co-leaders Johnson and Kisner, Woods started well Saturday with birdies at Nos. 4 and 6 to get to 2-under. Then he went on a tear with three consecutive birdies at Nos. 9-11, and when he chalked up his sixth birdie of the day, at the par-5 14th, he was 6-under and sharing the lead.
Norris slowly realized what was going on. “The first couple of holes, the crowds were 5-10 deep,” he said, laughing. “By the turn, they were 15-20 deep.” And growing.
Woods faltered at the par-3 16th, where his tee shot briefly sat on the green’s fringe before trickling off to the right, the crowd exhaling a huge “Aww!” He failed to get up and down, suffering his first – and only – bogey. “Two bad putts in a row,” he said.
Still, Woods refused to lose focus. When he pulled his drive at the 18th into the left rough adjacent to the Barry Burn, he wisely laid up to 83 yards, pitched to three feet and saved par. “That was big for me, not making two bogeys the last three holes,” he said.
Another round awaits him. Woods trails five players, including defending champion Jordan Spieth. But after so many disappointments since 2008, the former No. 1 player in the world had hope again. And that felt good.
“I’ve got a chance at this, which is great,” he said. “Given what’s happened the past few years, I didn’t know if that would ever happen again, but here I am with a chance coming Sunday in a major championship.”
He smiled once more. “It’s going to be fun.”
For Woods, and for everyone else, too.
This story was originally published July 21, 2018 at 5:05 PM.