Tiger Woods Sounds/Looks Like A Go For The PGA Championship

Unless something unforeseen happens between now and May 19, it sure looks like The Old Needle-Mover Himself (aka Tiger Woods) will tee it up at the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills.

Woods showed up early last Thursday in Tulsa.  He arrived at Southern Hills and headed straight for the range — no need to go in the clubhouse and alert everyone that You Know Who was on the property.

Cary Cozby is the head PGA Professional and Director of Golf at Southern Hills.  He got a call from PGA headquarters to let him know that You Know Who would be showing up that Thursday morning — plan accordingly.

Cozby himself served as Tiger’s caddie.  El Tigre went 18, an early scouting trip akin to the one he made at Augusta National.

We’ll defer to Cozby himself to get his opinion on what he saw for 18 holes:

“Everything is so smooth with him now.  His rhythm is great, he hit it straight and plenty far, he pitched and putted it great. I know guys can hit it past him now, but watching him work was amazing. He’s so meticulous, detailed and immersed in what he’s doing. He was very inquisitive on lines and the best angles.  I think he can contend. He’s like Michael Jordan late in his career, playing defense and hitting jump shots. Whoever wins here is going to have to be a great chipper and he is still that.”

So said the head pro who had the best look at Woods.

Cozby was pretty chatty about that which he saw from Tiger — no NDA signed, he was free to speak.

As Tiger made his way around Southern Hills, the word began to spread.

“The golf shop is in front of the first tee so there’s probably 20 members that slipped out there to watch him,” Cozby said afterward, recalling his adventure.  “He (Tiger) didn’t look up, hit his shot.  Second hole, there’s a helicopter.  Fourth hole, you know, there’s 50 to 70 people up on the hill overlooking that hole.  And by the time we get to six, there’s 30 to 40 people in the trees across the street with television cameras and phones and pictures and ‘We love you, Tiger’ and ‘Go get ’em, Tiger’ ‘Great shot, Tiger.’ Just amazing.”

Woods had some big stuff to attend to after that quick stop in Tulsa.

Last weekend was Tiger Jam in Las Vegas.  It serves as a huge extravaganza-style fundraiser for Tiger’s foundation.  There was a brief golf component as well.  Tiger and world No. 3 Collin Morikawa put on a clinic/exhibition/range fun as part of the festivities.

That was Friday and Saturday.

After that, it was back to Jupiter — more rehab work, more prep time on the range, perhaps more than Woods was able to do before The Masters.

They’re already preparing in St. Andrews for the 150th Open Championship to be held on The Old Course in July.  The R&A was bombarded with ticket applications.  It’s already a sellout.

The Scots know that The Old Needle Mover Himself will be headed for Scotland and that milestone Open Championship.