Tiger Woods has returned to St Andrews hoping to contend but accepting it may also be his last British Open at the home of golf.
Unsure what the future holds, Tiger Woods is savouring his sixth British Open at St Andrews like it's his last after arriving at the grand Old Course feeling nostalgic and hoping to contend once more.
Like Jack Nicklaus, Woods has won the Open twice at the home of golf and never tires of returning to the famous Scottish links that he calls his favourite course in the world.
"This is where it all began for me as an amateur. My first chance to play in the Open championship was here (in 1995)," Woods said.
"I'll never forget I played with Ernie Els and Peter Jacobsen the first two days.
"We had a chance to play with some greats in practice rounds - Freddie (Couples), Raymond (Floyd), 'Ollie' (Jose Maria Olazabal), (Bernhard) Langer.
"I had a great time as a young little kid, and they showed me the ropes of how to play this golf course and how many different options there were.
"This is where I completed the career grand slam. At the time I had the record in scoring in all four major championships. So this venue has meant a lot."
But, at 46 and still wounded from the car crash last year that almost cost him his right leg, the 15-times major champion admits Father Time and his battered body mean he may not be back when the Open next returns to St Andrews, likely in 2026 or '27 but certainly not before.
"If it is that long, I don't know whether I will be able to physically compete at this level by then," he said.
"It's also one of the reasons why I wanted to play in this championship. I don't know what my career is going to be like.
"I'm not going to play a full schedule ever again. My body just won't allow me. I don't know how many Open Championships I have left here at St Andrews.
"But I wanted this one. It started here for me in '95, and if it ends here in '22, it does. If it doesn't, it doesn't. If I get the chance to play one more, it would be great, but there's no guarantee."
As it is, Woods never thought a year ago that he'd even be teeing off this week.
"For the most part of my rehab I was just hoping that I could walk again, walk normal and have a normal life and maybe play a little hit-and-giggle golf with my son or my friends at home,' he said.
"But lo and behold, I've played championship golf this year and, once I realised that I could possibly play at a high level, my focus was to get back here at St Andrews, to play in this championship being it's the most historic one we've ever had."
And he believes he can win.
"Just lucky enough, in our sport, to be able to play as long as we are able to play late into the 40s. Especially on links golf courses like this, you can continue into your 50s," Woods said.
"We saw Tom (Watson) have it on his putter to win late in his 50s. So it can be done.
"It just takes a lot of knowledge and understanding of how to play this type of golf.
"And with the fairways being fast and firm, it allows players who are older to run the ball out there and have a chance."
