Tiger Woods already looking ahead to next year after falling flat Thursday at Royal Troon

TROON, Scotland — One round into the Open Championship at Royal Troon, Tiger Woods already found himself looking ahead to next season.

“Hopefully next year will be a little bit better than this year,” Woods said after his round.

The 48-year-old golf legend shot an eight-over 79 and, without a massive turnaround on Friday, Woods will finish the 2024 major championship season with three consecutive missed cuts.

“At the end of last year, it was tough, and I haven’t played a whole lot,” Woods said. “I think that, as the year has gone on, I have gotten better. I just wish I could have played a little bit more, but I’ve been saving it for the majors just in case I do something pretty major and then take myself out of it.”

Woods was asked if he intends to add tournaments to his 2025 schedule after playing just five official events in 2024.

“I thought I could play a little bit more earlier in the year,” he said. “I think I was a little bit too optimistic. I need to do a lot more work in the gym and keep progressing like we have.”

Woods made six bogeys ad two double-bogeys on Thursday versus just two birdies.

“I didn’t do a whole lot of things right today. I made that putt on the third hole and then I think I had three 3-putts today,” he said. “I didn’t hit my irons very close and I didn’t give myself a whole lot of looks today.”

As pessimistic as the situation looks this week, Woods has never been one to throw in the towel if he’s physically able to play.

“I need to shoot something in the mid-60s tomorrow to get something going on the weekend,” he said.

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