LA JOLLA, CALIFORNIA | Like the hang gliders and the hypnotic views from the cliffs that frame the Pacific Ocean, Tiger Woods is part of the scenery at Torrey Pines.
Every year that he comes to the Farmers Insurance Open, he tells the story of this being the place he saw his first PGA Tour event, walking with his father, Earl, getting an up-close look at the game he would soon change.
Woods has won eight times here – one U.S. Open and seven PGA Tour events – but he arrived here this week feeling a sense of renewal.
A year ago, he arrived with hope and uncertainty, wondering if his fused back would allow him to play golf close to the way he once did. It took a few months before Woods and everyone else realized just how good he could be.
Now we know and he knows.
Still, though, it’s different.
Not better. Not worse. Just different.
The skinny guy in the oversized shirts to whom we were introduced is now 43 years old, telling stories about his two kids and talking about the forced days off when his body needs rest more than it needs reps in the gym or on the course.
Woods stood on the edge of Torrey Pines’ practice green Tuesday afternoon and was struck by how many of the players he didn’t know.
While he was gone, while he was having back surgeries and doubts about his future, the game kept rushing ahead.
Until the first round Thursday, Woods had never played with Xander Schauffele or Tony Finau. He didn’t need an introduction and neither did they – Woods quickly ticked off the tournaments Schauffele has won and joked about how few fairways his playing partner hit (three) in the first round – but it was another reminder of how things have changed, big and small, in Woods’ world.
There was a time when Woods would stare down anyone who asked him in a pre-tournament interview about his goals for the week, curtly answering, “Win.”
That’s still the goal but the delivery is different, softer and with more wiggle room.
This is his first official start since winning the Tour Championship last September. He played the Ryder Cup with his energy drained and his appearance at the Hero World Challenge he hosted in December was like a holiday get-together.
Now he’s back to work.
Woods has no intention of stopping at 80 Tour wins and 14 major championships. The closing chapters could be the best part of his story.
“It’s cool to see him back,” Jason Day said. “It’s just interesting to see how this year goes because obviously last year you’re just trying to build and build and build…
“Is he going to come back out and start saying he’s competing and playing and I’m going to win every week because that’s kind of the old Tiger I knew. Obviously over the last few years we’ve gotten a little bit different Tiger because he was coming back from injury. It will be interesting to see where his mentality is in regards to winning tournaments.”
It’s still about that. Woods has no intention of stopping at 80 Tour wins and 14 major championships. The closing chapters could be the best part of his story.
Woods joked about striping his tee shot down the middle of the first fairway Thursday on the South Course where he won the U.S. Open nearly 11 years ago. That week, Woods made three double bogeys on the first hole but still managed to claim his 14th major championship.
“(Caddie) Joey (LaCava) was asking me going down the first fairway, how did you play this hole in the U.S. Open? I said I played it 6-over in the first four rounds. I made par in the playoff which was great,” said Woods, who opened with a 2-under par 70 Thursday.
“I didn’t want to start off with a bogey on the first hole. I piped it down No. 1. That’s a green light 8-iron (approach). I normally take a pretty aggressive line. I just dumped it in the center of the green and said, OK, let’s just start with a par.”
That’s how he’s different. It’s a small thing but it’s illustrative of the bigger picture.
In his pre-tournament interview, Woods talked about a variety of things – the joy he got from being able to dive again, the memory of hugging his late father after winning his first U.S. Amateur 25 years ago and the best shot he hit last year (the fairway bunker shot on the 10th at Carnoustie in the final round of the Open Championship and a bogey save on the 16th hole in the third round of the Tour Championship were mentioned.)
He also talked about taking time to fully savor his Tour Championship victory and emerging from the gallery that engulfed him as he walked to the 18th green. He’s watched the video of that afternoon more than once.
“It gives me chills almost every time I see it,” Woods admitted.
Back at Torrey Pines, Woods is starting again. He shot another 70 on Friday, finishing two shots inside the cut line but 48 places out of the lead.
It’s all so familiar but so different, too.
Tiger Woods smiles during his return to Torrey Pines for the Farmers Insurance Open. Photo: Chris Carlson, AP