Tiger Woods Off Early For US Open Practice That Includes Adam Scott And His Major Streak

Pinehurst, North Carolina – Tiger Woods was among those at Pinehurst No. 2 for the first full day of U.S. Open practice before the sun broke through the clouds and climbed over the trees.

It’s his first time playing a U.S. Open on this Donald Ross masterpiece in 19 years, and much of it is new to him because of a decade-old restoration project that replaced rough with native sandy patches and wiregrass bushes.

As for Adam Scott, there is nothing unusual about playing in the majors — this is his 92nd consecutive appearance, the longest active streak — only how he got into the 156-man field.

A week ago, he finished as the first alternate at the 36-hole qualifier in Springfield, Ohio, after losing in a playoff to Cam Davis for the final berth.

Woods | AP news Image

Tiger Woods Off Early For US Open Practice That Includes Adam Scott And His Major Streak

“Leaving from Springfield, there was a lot of uncertainty, I would say,” Scott stated. “By Friday, after learning how this field worked, I felt much better about myself. It’s odd because, having yet to be in that position, there’s much to learn about how a profession is filled. And it isn’t very easy.

“I’m grateful I haven’t been in this position too much.”

The USGA reserved six spots for anyone who moved into the top 60 in the Official World Golf Ranking published Monday, with the remaining spots going to alternates.

Scott was at No. 60 last week and was almost certainly going to slip out. However, there was also the difficult subject of Grayson Murray, who committed suicide on May 25 but remains in the top 60. The USGA wants to honor Murray’s standing in the global rankings, which will remain for another week, but stated that his name would be removed from its top 60 category.

Scott fell to No. 61 — Billy Horschel, who was already in the U.S. Open, was one stroke away from bumping Scott to No. 62 — but he maintains a major-winning streak dating back to the 2001 British Open.

It appears only on paper. Scott discovered that his qualification will be chosen as the fourth alternate location. Robert MacIntyre, the Canadian Open winner, would take one of the six reserved berths, leaving five spots.

“I can do that math,” Scott replied with a smile.

He had to go through U.S. Open qualification five years ago, and what he stated then is true today. Getting into the major is fantastic. But the goal is to win.

The Pinehurst No. 2 course is among the most difficult. In the previous three U.S. Opens, only four players finished under par: Payne Stewart (1 under) in 1999, Martin Kaymer (8 under), Erik Compton (1 under), and Rickie Fowler (1 under) in 2014.

Tiger Woods | AP News Image

Tiger Woods Off Early For US Open Practice That Includes Adam Scott And His Major Streak

“This is pretty typical of the U.S. Open in the sense that par is a great friend to you all week,” said Webb Simpson, a former U.S. Open champion who had to qualify for the first time since 2011. “It’s a brutally difficult golf course.

“You need to be extremely disciplined. “You must accept 30-footers all day.”

Woods has a full week besides golf. He had scheduled a mid-morning news conference, which was postponed in the week. On Tuesday night, he will also receive the Bob Jones Award, the highest accolade bestowed by the USGA.

It remains to be seen whether—and when—he will take the Ryder Cup captaincy for the 2025 matches. He was in New York on Friday for a PGA Tour Enterprises board meeting with LIV Golf’s Saudi investors.

He played alongside Fowler, Justin Thomas, and Jordan Spieth, with son Charley accompanying him now that he is out of school for the summer.

Scottie Scheffler did not play after winning the Memorial by one stroke on a Muirfield Village course that felt like the U.S. Open.

Among those playing in the afternoon was David Puig of Spain, a 22-year-old who competes on the LIV Golf circuit and serves as a reminder of what else is at stake this week. The world rankings revealed on Monday will determine who will compete in the Paris Olympics.

Puig sees it as both simple and intimidating. If he cuts, he will take the second position, which goes to Spain. If he misses, it goes to Jorge Campillo.

Woods | AP News Image

Tiger Woods Off Early For US Open Practice That Includes Adam Scott And His Major Streak

Maxwell Moldovan, who recently graduated from Ohio State, became professional and was Ohio’s second alternate a week ago and was also on the field. It required a series of circumstances for him to get to Pinehurst, but everything worked out brilliantly for him.

Nobody at the Memorial knocked Scott out of the top 61. Because Scott was the first alternate at Springfield, Moldovan took his slot. He found out at 5:20 a.m. Monday, when Neal Shipley, the Masters’ low amateur and a Buckeyes teammate, messaged him.

Moldovan had to win a playoff against Troy Merritt to be the second alternate. The final round of the Memorial significantly impacted his near future.

“I did a lot of leaderboard watching and OWGR searching, and a lot of my friends were trying to crunch numbers and see what I needed,” he explained. “I’m thankful how it all worked out.”

SOURCE – (AP)