Tiger Woods, like Phil Mickelson before him, flew in under the radar for a reconnaissance mission to Chambers Bay, site of this month’s U.S. Open, and all systems appeared to be go for the 14-time major winner.
Tiger Woods lands at Chambers Bay for U.S. Open scouting trip
Days before teeing it up at the Memorial Tournament, Tiger Woods slips into Chambers Bay for a practice round at the site of this month’s U.S. Open.
Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Both golf legends touched down outside Tacoma ahead of this week’s Memorial Tournament in Ohio, Lefty beating Tiger by a few days.
Eagle eyes noticed Woods’ private Gulfstream jet parked at the Tacoma Narrows Airport in nearby Gig Harbor on Sunday, after which a somewhat out-of-focus photo of a somber Tiger in the passenger seat of a car hit Twitter.
About 6'1, 185 lbs, 14 majors? Yep that's him MT @Q13FOX Can you see him? Tiger Woods spotted at Chambers Bay pic.twitter.com/uRcVj87a36
— Kelly Tilghman (@KellyTilghmanGC) June 1, 2015 As one bemused observer noted, a visit by Tiger to the site of the national championship sparked just a wee bit of interest among the locals -- as well as with the golf community as a whole.
Tiger Woods is here in WA golfing and based on my TL & the way it's being covered you'd think Jesus H. Christ himself was on the greens.
— Champagne Supernova (@kristen_emm) June 1, 2015 Though security forces seemed to have the looky-loos assigned to the cheap seats for Woods’ first foray to the track, Tiger gave a wave from afar.
Just watched Tiger Woods hit his first tee shot on hole 1 at Chambers! pic.twitter.com/DfJf4UOUK4
— Patrick Nugent (@patty_wagon34) June 1, 2015 .@Paul4KOMOsports got this shot of Tiger Woods acknowledging the fans during his practice round at Chambers Bay. pic.twitter.com/786fZKplyZ
— KOMO 4 Sports (@KOMO4Sports) June 1, 2015 Of more importance than his mere presence to Woods watchers, were some of the reports of how well the former world No. 1 was doing on his scouting trip. It appeared, at least from the vantage point of these observers, that Tiger fared rather well on the unfamiliar track:
It's @TigerWoods on the 9th at @ChambersBayGolf pic.twitter.com/zUDuJdIg5b
— Chris Egan King-5 TV (@ChrisEgan5) June 1, 2015 No joke, Tiger Woods just knocked his tee shot on the 9th hole 8 feet from the hole at @ChambersBayGolf pic.twitter.com/qgH5z5QMye
— Chris Egan King-5 TV (@ChrisEgan5) June 1, 2015 At Jack Nicklaus’ upcoming event, Woods will make his first start since just squeaking into the weekend at The Players Championship and finishing T69 more than three weeks ago.
Tiger, Phil and the rest of the gang will hit the Washington state links for real starting June 18, with much on the line for many, especially the aging superstars. Mickelson wants to complete the career Grand Slam and bust out of his six-time runner-up rut, while Woods (now ranked 172nd in the world) hopes to break into the majors win column for the first time since the 2008 U.S. Open.
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