Tiger’s day as a player? Good. As a captain? Well …
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MELBOURNE, Australia – Once Tiger Woods delivered the final blow, a 5-foot birdie putt on the 15th hole to win the first point of this week’s Presidents Cup, he shook hands with his opponents, then hugged partner Justin Thomas, the latter having ridden Tiger’s back for most of the day.
After a quick television interview, Tiger walked toward his bag in a roped-off area off the green, reaching into pockets for a few personal items. With the help of Rob McNamara, a vice-president at Woods’ TGR Ventures, Tiger was fitted with an earpiece and a walkie-talkie on his right hip that has his name taped along the top. Tiger adjusted the earpiece slightly, forcing the three flies sitting lazily on his right shoulder blade to find new accommodations. He then steered his gaze down the fairway at the next match coming up 15.
The U.S. captain was ready to assume command from assistant Steve Stricker after spending the previous five hours as a player. It had taken less than 10 minutes of transition time. Only Superman in a phone booth changes quicker.
Tiger the player had a very successful Day 1 at Royal Melbourne. His six birdies – including three in the first five holes, one of which was a chip-in at the fifth green – gave the Americans their only match win of the day, 4 and 3 over the International Team of Marc Leishman and Joaquin Niemann.
As for Tiger the captain? Eh, not nearly as productive. His U.S. Team had its worst first session in Presidents Cup history, claiming just that single point he and Thomas provided. Down 4-1, it’s the first time in 14 years the U.S. has trailed after the first session and will put pressure on the Americans to rally in Friday’s Foursomes session.
In fact, it may have forced Woods to insert himself into the lineup after speculation that he might sit out Friday while limiting himself to three matches this week. Instead, Woods will partner with Thomas again in the fourth match of the day against Hideki Matsuyama and Byeong Hun An, who each won matches with different partners Thursday.
“We have a couple different options rolling into this entire Cup,” Woods explained. “The guys have known the game plan, different possible options, and this is one of the scenarios.”
More Tiger not only should benefit the Americans, it will also benefit the fans coming out to Royal Melbourne.
It has been eight years since Woods was last seen in Australia, representing the U.S. at the 2011 Presidents Cup at this same venue. Woods had a singular role that week as player, and there were times Thursday when he turned back the clock – not to 2011 but to vintage Tiger of a decade earlier.
He started fast, an approach from 57 yards landing inside 3 feet for a conceded birdie at the opening hole. He bailed himself out of a poor tee shot with a terrific recovery at the par-5 second, then walked in his second birdie putt, this one from 6 feet.
After Leishman – who was playing with just 13 clubs on Thursday after the base of his 2-iron broke on the range -- won the third hole and Thomas countered by winning the fourth, Tiger stood on the tee at the par-3 fifth. The wind was a bit troublesome, and he opted to change clubs. Meanwhile, a baby was crying behind the ropes while Tiger took his swing. He didn’t flinch but the tee shot finished in the small patch of rough 37 feet from the pin.
Woods then produced the biggest – perhaps the only – American highlight of the day, as his chip rolled into the pin. Assistant captain Zach Johnson pumped his fist while Woods pointed to Thomas to tell him to go get the ball. (Which Thomas did, of course. You don’t say no to the captain).
Perhaps even more telling, the crowd roared in approval. Not only did this match have the biggest following, it also was the least partisan. The locals obviously want the Internationals to win, but it won’t be at the expense of appreciating a legend rarely seen on their shores.
It’s why when Tiger struck his approach shot at the sixth hole, a fan with a distinctly Aussie accent yelled, “Get in the hole.” On the next hole, Woods hit a fan in the ribs with an errant tee shot. It was a guy from Leishman’s hometown of Warrnambool. Nevertheless, getting a signed glove from Woods made his day.
“Tiger is going to be treated like a rock star this week because the fans don’t know how many times they will see him again,” former International assistant Frank Nobilo said on the Golf Channel. “Australia loves its sport. They know who the best in the business is.”
The best in the business was on display Thursday.
Thomas was asked about their partnership – the first involving Woods and Thomas – and what was working so well between the two.
“Tiger was working so well between the two of us,” Thomas replied. “He played great … He really carried me out there. It was a tough day out there and to have as many birdie putts as he had on a couple of holes was the reason we won the match.”
Woods didn’t take time to enjoy the victory, though. Having switched to captain mode, he waited off the 15th green to greet the next two U.S. partnerships coming through, knowing the rest of the day did not look promising. The conversations were brief,
“I don’t think there’s much to say other than going out and competing and let them play,” Woods had noted earlier. “They are in their own little worlds, and hopefully they can turn their matches around.”
Then he walked – no riding for the captain, although there were carts on either side of him – up the 16th fairway in hopes that the Bryson DeChambeau-Tony Finau duo, 2 down at the time, could work its way back into the match.
It didn’t happen. They lost. So did all the other Americans who followed Tiger.
“This is a long four days,” Woods said. “We have to go earn this Cup. Just because we lost this session doesn’t mean the Cup’s over.”
Evidently, the issue of Woods being a player captain isn’t that he must balance two huge responsibilities. It’s that he can’t appear in every match the American team plays. Given the Day 1 results, that may be the only way the U.S. gets back into contention.