Open Golf: Tiger aiming to call on Major experience

World number one Tiger Woods hopes that experience will count today at Muirfield as he aims to chase down Lee Westwood and land his first Major in five years.

The American – who tees off at 14.00 with Masters champion Adam Scott – carded a one-over 72 yesterday to end on one-under-par for the tournament and feels that he is perfectly placed to mount a charge today.

“I’m pleased where I’m at,” said Woods. “I’m only two back. There’s only one guy ahead of me. And tomorrow, we’ll see what they do tomorrow.”

While Woods has not won one of the sport’s big prizes since the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines, he maintains that the experience of winning 14 times will help him get over the line today.
I’ve got 14 of these things, and I know what it takes to win it. “I’ve got 14 of these things, and I know what it takes to win it. I’ve been in this position before, in the past five years, and I’ve been in that hunt on that mix. And I’m in it again. Hopefully tomorrow I can play well and win the tournament.”

The world number one did acknowledge that Westwood is more than capable of lifting the Claret Jug, though, even though he has no Majors to his name.

“He’s won tournaments all over the world. He knows how to win golf tournaments. I’m looking forward to the challenge of it.

“There’s a bunch of guys who have a chance to win this tournament. And all of us need to really play well tomorrow to win it.”