Ahead of The Open Championship at Royal Troon, Tiger Woods has candidly discussed the most challenging defeat of his illustrious professional career. Speaking before the 152nd Open Championship, the 15-time Major champion opened up about the 2009 PGA Championship at Hazeltine National, where South Korea’s Y.E. Yang overcame a two-shot deficit to clinch the title, beating Woods by three strokes.
Reflecting on the pivotal match, Woods admitted, “The hardest loss to get over was the Y.E. Yang loss because I had the lead. I had never lost a major championship while leading. That was the first.” This revelation highlights the psychological and emotional impact the defeat had on Woods, who had been dominant in such situations throughout his career.
Woods further elaborated on the specifics of that final round, expressing regret over the mistakes made. “That took a little bit of time to get over because I had made some pretty stupid mistakes in the middle part of the round. I made a huge rally at the end, but it was too late. I made too many mistakes in the middle. You can’t afford to make the mistakes that I made and expect to win tournaments. I know better than that,” he explained. Despite leading by two shots through 54 holes at Hazeltine, Woods struggled on the front nine of the final round. Although he regained the lead through 11 holes on Sunday, Yang’s eagle on the 14th shifted the momentum, and Woods could not recover, eventually bogeying the last two holes to finish three strokes behind the South Korean.
Woods’ reflection on this loss came in the context of Rory McIlroy’s recent narrow miss at the US Open at Pinehurst. Woods shared that he had reached out to McIlroy to offer support after the event. “I just sent him a nice text. That was it. I waited a week before I sent it. I wanted to let it calm down,” Woods said. He added, “Just basically, as you know, I’m your friend. I know this is a difficult moment. We’ve all been there as champions. We all lose. Unfortunately, it just happened, and the raw emotion of it, it’s still there, and it’s going to be there for, I’m sure, some time.”
This conversation sheds light on the camaraderie and mutual respect among elite golfers, even as they compete fiercely against each other. Woods’ words to McIlroy underscore the shared experiences of triumph and defeat that bond them.
Additionally, Woods spoke about the inherent pressures and discomforts he has faced throughout his career, even at the peak of his powers. “Lots of times. There’s a lot of times I felt discomfort. Yes, absolutely. Nervous, shaky, uncomfortable, yeah, all of it. That’s part of it. That’s why you love it. That’s why we practice,” he said. This admission reveals the human side of the champion, emphasizing that even the greatest athletes experience moments of doubt and anxiety. “I work hard at it, and I’ve done it my entire life. I’ve worked hard to put myself there,” he added, highlighting the relentless dedication required to stay at the top.
As Woods prepares to tee off at Royal Troon, he is set to compete alongside World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and fellow American Patrick Cantlay, beginning their round at 2:37 PM on Thursday. The trio’s grouping is expected to draw significant attention, with fans eager to see how Woods performs in this prestigious tournament.
Woods’ reflections provide a poignant reminder of the highs and lows that define a career in professional sports. His openness about the 2009 PGA Championship defeat and his supportive gesture towards McIlroy illustrate the depth of his character and the complexities of competing at the highest level. As he steps onto the course at Royal Troon, the golfing world watches with bated breath, anticipating another chapter in the storied career of Tiger Woods.
