For Woods, Turnberry Feels Like the First Time

Tiger Woods has never played Turnberry in an Open Championship.  In fact, most of his colleagues in the Open have not played Turnberry.  It has been fifteen years since the Open was last contested at Turnberry.  Nick Price won then - and even he is not in the field, conceding the spot to a younger gun.  Seems logical considering that Turnberry is only hosting its fourth Open and it began hosting the championship with the 1977 Duel in the Sun.

The theme of Woods' lack of exposure to Turnberry is prevalent in pre-Championship reporting.  Thomas Bonk covers the subject for Golf World.  Doug Ferguson touches on it in a filing for the Associated Press.

The thing is, though, that Woods playing major championship venues for the first time is nothing new.  Woods has played the US Open since 1995 and he has only seen three repeats to date - Shinnecock Hills, Pinehurst #2, and Bethpage Black.  He will see a repeat next year in Pebble Beach, but he had seen it plenty of times before his 2000 US Open win.

As for the Open Championship, Woods sees repeats much more often.  The supposed seven year Open rota gives him a fresh view of the same courses more often.  Still, he has won the Open on the most familiar course in the world - St. Andrew's - and a course that hadn't seen the Open in some forty years - Hoylake.  He has failed to win the Open on any other Open course.

Seeing the course before or not seems to be of no consequence to Woods, at least in his pre-tournament chatter.  It certainly is a different preparation method for him.  Woods emphasized the need to do more "homework" before the championship - film study and practice rounds.  There is no personal experience to call upon.

"To try to get a little bit different feel for how the golf course is playing ... I can't rely on past years' experience."

Woods' experience this week may well come to remind you - as it does me - of the Foreigner baby-making classic "Feels Like the First Time."

I have waited a lifetime
Spent my time so foolishly
But now that Ive found you
Together well make history

And it feels like the first time
Like it never did before
Feels like the first time
Like weve opened up the door
Feels like the first time
Like it never will again, never again