This archive report was first published on 7 August 2020.
At 44, Tiger Woods is not getting any younger, but he's adapting his game to stay competitive. The 15-time major champion switched to a longer putter for the PGA Championship, citing back problems that have plagued him for years.
"I've been messing around with this putter for the better part of over a year. It's difficult for me to bend over at times," Woods said.
Woods' decision to switch to a longer putter was influenced by his experience on the Champions Tour, where most players use longer putters as they age. "Most of the guys on the Champions Tour have gone to longer putters as they have gotten older, because it's easier to bend over, or not bend over," he explained.
On Thursday, Woods' new putter paid off as he shot a two-under 68 in the first round of the PGA Championship. He made a 32-foot birdie putt on the 13th hole, which got him to two-under par.
Woods teed off with Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas, and the three players began their round with birdies on the 10th hole at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco. The 2020 PGA is being played without spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which added to the unusual atmosphere on the course.
"It's just the way it is. This is our norm for a while," Woods said. "I don't know how long it's going to be. The energy is different. You're not going to have as many distractions out there, as well. There's really no one moving around. You don't hear the crowd noises."
Woods' round was not without its challenges, but he was able to regroup and make key shots to stay in contention. He hit a brilliant tee shot on the par-3 11th, leaving himself with a 15-footer for birdie, and made three more birdies on his back nine.
Woods says the key to scoring well at Harding Park is to drive the ball straight on the narrow fairways, as the rough is taller and thicker than normal. "This golf course, you have to hit the ball in the fairway. You get a ball in the rough, into the grain, there's no chance you can get the ball to the green," he said.
