Woods "Attending Major Champ The Open Celebration"... "How Is the Condition of My Leg?"

Tiger Woods (left) and Lee Trevino are playing an exhibition match at the major champions' Open celebration event. St Andrews (Scotland) = Getty Images / Multibits Photo by Multibits

[Asia Economy Golf Specialist Reporter Kim Hyun-jun] "As expected, walking is the problem"

The 'Golf Emperor' Tiger Woods appeared on the 12th (Korean time) at a celebration gathering of past male and female major champions held at the Old Course in St Andrews, Scotland, the venue for this season's final major, The Open (total prize money $14 million). Attendees included Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Colin Morikawa (all from the USA), Padraig Harrington, Shane Lowry (both from Ireland), Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), Laura Davies, and Georgia Hall (both from England).

Woods played an exhibition round on four holes?1, 2, 17, and 18?with Trevino (USA), McIlroy, and Hall. Trevino reported, "Woods' tee shots flew as far as McIlroy's," adding, "He still maintains a high trajectory." He said, "Woods confided in me that 'walking is the problem.' The tournament organizers said he could use a cart if he wanted, but he emphasized, 'If I can't play by walking, I won't participate in the tournament.'

The Old Course at St Andrews is flatter than Augusta National, the battleground of the Masters, or Southern Hills, where the PGA Championship is held, but it has many uneven and sunken spots. Trevino predicted, "You can't just walk straight; naturally, it will be tough on the uphill and downhill sections." Above all, the course's unique pot bunkers are an obstacle. Trevino also added, "I advised him to deliberately enter the bunkers to check if his body could adapt."