Tiger Woods is chasing his first major title in five years.
As a compelling pack of leaders teed off in the final round of the British Open on Sunday, the psychological battle seemed to present as steep a challenge as Muirfield’s unforgiving course.
That, of course, is natural when the 54-hole leader is a 40-year-old Englishman who has never won a major in 62 tries, Lee Westwood having littered them with heartbreak along the way. But now, after shooting a nervy one-under 70 in the third round on Saturday, he has a chance to change all that, provided he conquers his nerves, the course and the field.
He teed off with the lead at three under for the tournament. He is playing with Hunter Mahan, who has also never won a major, but with far less career heartache so far. He started at one under.
The next group is the intimidating twosome of Tiger Woods and Adam Scott. Woods has his own battle going on, trying to snap a five-year drought in majors at age 37, his once dominant career hitting an extended rough patch. He tries to exude the old confidence, although he is two shots behind and has never won a major without at least a share of the 54-hole lead.
“I’ve got 14 of these things, and I know what it takes to win it,” Woods said, then nodded at Westwood. “He’s won tournaments all over the world. He knows how to win golf tournaments. He’s two shots ahead, and we’re going to go out there and both compete and play. It’s not just us two. There’s a bunch of guys who have a chance to win.”
Woods started off poorly despite a great tee shot on No. 1, he walked off that hole with a bogey after a poor approach.
Scott started off three shots behind Westwood, having broken through for his first major victory at this year’s Masters, but he has some psychological baggage of his own: having blown a chance at victory at last year’s British Open by squandering a four-shot lead with four holes to play to lose to Ernie Els at Royal Lytham.
Scott immediately had a bogey on No. 1 to start off on the wrong foot again this year.
In the early going, Henrik Stenson sank a terrific long putt on No. 1 for birdie and another on No. 3 to jump to one under.
Phil Mickelson, who started five shots off Westwood’s lead, had pars on the first three holes.
