Tiger Woods has had mixed performances at Royal Troon during The Open Championship. Despite missing out on the legendary wins that have taken place at the Ayrshire course, Woods has shown moments of brilliance during his two visits to Troon.
In 1997, Woods finished T24 after rounds of 72, 74, 64, and 74. His third round 64 on Saturday was a standout performance that put him in contention for Sunday. However, a poor start in the second round left him in a challenging position. Woods started Sunday in T8 but was unable to make a significant impact, finishing with a 74. The victory went to Justin Leonard, who shot a 65 to claim the Claret Jug.
In 2004, Woods returned to Troon and finished T9 after rounds of 70, 71, 68, and 72. Once again, his highlight was the third round, where he carded a 68 to move up the leaderboard. Despite being in contention going into the final round, Woods struggled to make a dent and finished with a one-over 72. The victory this time went to Todd Hamilton, who won a thrilling playoff against Ernie Els.
Paul Higham, a seasoned sports journalist, has covered major sporting events for both Sky Sports and BBC Sport for over 20 years. He currently freelances and covers golf majors for the BBC Sport website. Some of his career highlights include the epic Monday finish in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor and Rory McIlroy’s dominant win at the 2011 US Open.
Higham also writes betting previews and has a knack for picking winners, such as backing Danny Willett when he won the Masters in 2016. His favorite interviews have been with top golfers like McIlroy, Paul McGinley, Thomas Bjorn, Rickie Fowler, and Victor Dubuisson. Despite being a fair weather golfer from Liverpool, Higham enjoys watching golf from any tour and has a soft spot for courses along England’s Golf Coast like Hoylake and Birkdale.
While Higham may not have as much time to play golf these days due to family commitments, his passion for the sport shines through his writing and coverage of major golf events. His insights and experiences add a unique perspective to the world of golf journalism.