Lifestyle
Tiger Woods Open future clear to see in telling practice round with Justin Thomas
Tiger Woods continued his preparations for The Open Championship at Royal Troon on Monday after hinting this could be the last time he competes for the Claret Jug.
After playing 18 holes on Sunday, Woods got another look Troon’s back nine alongside good friends Justin Thomas and Max Homa. And the trio were in high spirits in the Scottish morning sunshine, cracking jokes as they familiarised themselves with the conditions.
It was a stark contrast from a month ago at Pinehurst No. 2 when the US Open test proved too much for the 48-year-old, missing the cut at seven-over-par. That day, a disconsolate Woods hinted not only that he may have played his final US Open, but this week’s Open Championship could be his last.
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“As far as my last Open Championship or US Open Championship, I don’t know what that is. It may or may not be,” he said in a revealing omission that the end is near for arguably the game’s greatest player. The 15-time major champion has been caught in a vicious cycle of rustiness caused by a lack of competitive reps due to his injuries in recent years, and he has played just four tournaments this season.
He has since been urged by former foe Colin Montgomerie to be “realistic” and retire. Montgomerie told The Times last week: “I hope people remember Tiger as Tiger was, the passion and the charismatic aura around him. There is none of that now. At Pinehurst, he did not seem to enjoy a single shot and you think ‘What the hell is he doing?’ He’s coming to Troon and he won’t enjoy it there either.”
Woods’ compromised mobility in the wake of his 2021 car accident and resulting surgeries was evident throughout the morning on Scotland’s west coast, moving with a slightly awkward gait and looking stiff as he bent over to tie his shoelace. He also appeared to be consciously avoiding the bunkers when it came to getting in practice shots.
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by Taboola
Woods was in high spirits on Monday alongside Thomas and Homa
Woods was in high spirits on Monday alongside Thomas and Homa ( Image: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
After playing their approaches at each hole, the trio would arrive at the green and drop balls in various areas to prepare for the many different short-game challenges they could face when the tournament begins on Thursday. But when it came to the bunkers, Homa and Thomas would lob a couple of balls into the sand yet Woods would steer clear, perhaps to avoid unnecessary strain on his body given the depth of some of the traps littered across this gorgeous links layout.
The 15-time major champion has faded dramatically as a force, but he still carries the ability to move the needle – or the crowd – like few other sports stars. He was playing alongside two of the PGA Tour’s biggest stars, but the healthy crowd that followed was here to see Woods. When he hit his shots, the galleries moved forward to see the next, even if Homa and Thomas were yet to play.
That crowd was treated to a few moments of Tiger magic. A beautifully judged splash shot on the 14th after finding the sand with his approach showed he still possesses immense skill. Yet there were disappointments, with some spectators in the gallery grumbling that Woods had not stopped to sign autographs – which, in fairness, is not unusual for players in the middle of a round.
Woods was not as forensic as Homa and Thomas on the greens
Woods was not as forensic as Homa and Thomas on the greens ( Image: Stuart Kerr/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
Later on, a course volunteer had a selfie request rejected, not by Woods, but by a security guard who shadowed him throughout the day. “Absolutely not,” he bellowed at the man after he quietly asked for a picture.
There are few parallels between golf and boxing, but in Woods’ case there is at least one. They say the last attribute a boxer loses is power and despite the immense wear and tear he has accumulated on and off the course over the years, Woods still hits the ball a very long way.
His impressive speed off the tee was shown best on the par-four 12th, pummelling his drive 30 yards further down the fairway than Thomas and Homa. A precise approach followed to 12 feet but Woods raced the birdie putt past the cup – a theme of the day as he struggled to judge the speeds of the greens.
Woods, in general, was much less forensic around the greens than his playing partners. He hit plenty of putts and chips after finishing the hole with his original ball, but Thomas and Homa would painstakingly line up numerous efforts to every possible pin position.
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It seemed his patience had worn thin by the time he finished the 15th hole, with Woods standing alone with his caddie on the 16th tee while Homa and Thomas continued working away around the 15th green. But the good vibes flowed inside and outside the ropes, as all three were given a warm reception as they arrived at the 17th tee.
LITERALLY living inside the Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy in Mallorca, Spain for three years and counting, Filipina ace Alex Eala observed firsthand how tennis champions are made.
In fact, in some way, the 15-year-old sees herself treading the same ground and facing the same challenges as World No. 2 Rafael Nadal himself, who again bagged another Slam in his pocket today, after defeating World No. 1 Novak Djokovic in straight sets, in the French Open tournament.
It also helped, too, that she literally sees him on the court.
“Oftentimes, he plays beside me or on the court next to me. It’s so inspiring, even if you’re just watching him play from afar, you can learn a lot,” Eala said during a virtual press conference with the Philippine media on Sunday night.
Aside from being an oustanding athlete and tennis coach, she also considers the 34-year-old Nadal as an inspiring mentor.
“One of the biggest things I can take away from Rafa is his humility. [He’s] so grounded. He’s achieved more than I can dream of, and the fact that he’s achieved so much and he’s still very nice to everyone here, so down-to-earth, it’s very admirable for him,” she said.
It’s from him that Alex takes inspiration in celebrating her success in a very modest way. Just last Friday, she made the whole country proud after a gallant semifinals finish in her French Open stint.
Eala lost to Elsa Jacquemot, conceding the home ground to the French netter, 6-3, 6-2
Austin Butler just shared the details of his wild night at Paul McCartney’s house party.
The star-studded affair was not only the most “insane” time Butler’s had in a while, but it was the most glamorous, being surrounded by his childhood icons and legendary music artists like Meryl Streep and Bruce Springsteen.
Butler, 32, reflected on the experience while speaking with Jimmy Kimmel, who was also lucky enough to be at the party. During the June 17 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live, the two gushed about having last seen each other at McCartney’s house.
“Last time I saw you was at maybe the craziest party I’ve ever been to in my whole life,” Kimmel, 56, admitted before Butler agreed: “That was insane.”
Kimmel noted: “It was like a party where Tom Hanks is going: ‘Oh my God, can you believe who’s here?!’”
Emblem rockers like Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ringo Starr graced McCartney’s home, leaving Hollywood’s elite to mingle with music royalty, the pair said. Even Taylor Swift was there, according to Butler and Kimmel.
The Elvisstar said the “Anti-Hero” singer wasn’t a normal guest, she was the DJ. “Yeah, she was DJing at one point,” Butler told Kimmel, who then quipped about how Swift isn’t booked and busy enough, she must oversee the music for McCartney’s party, too.
While Swift’s appearance may have been cause for celebration among some of the other guests, Butler confessed a different idol sent him into complete awe. He couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw Meryl Streep in the same room as him.
“She’s just the greatest. I felt like, you know in high school when you have a crush on somebody and they’re across the room and you don’t really know how to say hello to them?” he said. “That’s how it was. I saw her there and I couldn’t believe I was in the same room.”
Too star-struck to approach the It’s Complicatedlead himself, Butler headed into McCartney’s kitchen to bide his time and eat some vegan pizza. Thankfully, his friend offered to introduce him and Streep.
“I couldn’t believe I was meeting Meryl Streep with Paul McCartney’s vegan pizza in my mouth,” Butler confessed.
He was then pulled into a circle of people he couldn’t pass the opportunity to spend time with. Butler was invited to “have tacos with Snoop Dogg and Robert De Niro.”
“I dropped everything I was doing and I was there in a heartbeat,” he told Kimmel.
Another crazy conversation Butler had was with Bruce Springsteen. The 74-year-old recounted a time when he was fearless, hopping the fence at Graceland to sing Elvis Presley a song.
Butler had heard rumors that Springsteen had done that but wasn’t sure it was true until he confirmed. Of course, Presley wasn’t there when Springsteen approached his front door.
Entertainment
Paige Spiranac gives hack for golfers with big boobs as she shares video of her swing in slow motion
PAIGE SPIRANAC gave fans a hack for golfers with big boobs and shared slow motion video. The American has become a popular sports influencer since she stopped competing in 2017.
She has since carved out a successful career on social media with over 4million Instagram followers.
In a recent post on X, Paige gave tips for players on the course who have bigger busts.
She wrote: “I’ve been doing these slow mo videos and in all seriousness it’s wild seeing what my chest has to do through the swing so my arms can clear lol I can totally understand why women with larger chests who pick up the game feel stuck and uncomfortable.
“My tip is under on the right arm and over the chest on the left at set up. Also stand a little farther away from the ball!”
Paige had just a brief year playing career but is now making huge amounts through social media.
Research from Vegas Insider suggests the 31-year-old earns as much as FOUR TIMES more per post than Scottie Scheffler.
The study estimates that Paige earns between $8,477 (£6,692) to $12,716 (£10,000) per post.
Scheffler, on the other hand, earns $2,000 (£1,578) to $3,000 (£2,368) per post.
Paige is also now inviting followers to join her on Passes, where her memberships run from £4 to £80 a month.
She announced the news on Instagram alongside some trademark racy photos.
A glimpse inside Paige Spiranac’s glamorous life…
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