Patrick Cantlay’s Eye-Opening Encounter with Tiger Woods: A Humbling Experience Before The 152nd Open
Patrick Cantlay’s Eye-Opening Encounter with Tiger Woods: A Humbling Experience Before The 152nd Open
Patrick Cantlay, the 32-year-old American golfer, is set to compete in The 152nd Open at Royal Troon alongside legends Tiger Woods and Xander Schauffele. As Cantlay prepares for this significant event, he reflects on a humbling visit to Tiger Woods’ home—a visit that forever changed his perspective on the game.
This season has been a mixed bag for Cantlay. While he achieved top-five finishes at both the Travelers Championship and the US Open, his overall performance has fluctuated. His eighth-place finish at The Open in 2022 remains a highlight, showcasing his potential in major tournaments.
Tiger Woods, a name synonymous with golfing greatness, has won an astounding 15 major titles. Cantlay’s realization of Woods’ unparalleled achievements hit home during a visit to the legend’s house. Cantlay, who won Player of the Year in 2021, shared his awe-inspiring experience with Golf Magazine.
“I went over to Tiger’s house to discuss the Ryder Cup after being named Player of the Year,” Cantlay recalled. “Receiving that little Jack Nicklaus bronze trophy felt monumental to me. But as we walked through Tiger’s basement, I saw 11 of those trophies lined up—boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.”
Amid the trophies, Cantlay couldn’t resist a playful comment: “Hey, I’m catching up.” Woods, with his characteristic candor, delivered a succinct reply: “You got a lot of work to do.” This eight-word piece of advice underscored the enormous gap between Cantlay’s accomplishments and Woods’ legendary career. Woods has been named PGA Player of the Year eleven times, starting with his first accolade in 1997 following his victory at The Masters.
Woods’ record is a testament to his dominance, with 15 major wins including five Masters, four PGA Championships, three US Opens, and three Open Championships. However, despite his successes, Royal Troon has eluded him. His best finish at the Scottish course was a tie for ninth in 2004, where Todd Hamilton famously defeated Ernie Els in a dramatic playoff.
Cantlay, though successful with victories at the 2017 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, the 2021 Memorial Tournament, and the 2021 BMW Championship, is yet to secure a major win. His best performance at The Open was a tie for eighth at St Andrews in 2022, finishing alongside Bryson DeChambeau and Jordan Spieth with a score of -12. Cameron Smith emerged victorious that year, finishing at -20, one stroke ahead of runner-up Cameron Young.
Cantlay’s most notable major performance was a tie for third at the 2019 PGA Championship, where he finished with a score of -3 alongside Matt Wallace and Spieth. As he steps onto the course at Royal Troon, Cantlay carries not just his skill and determination, but also the weight of Woods’ humbling words and the inspiration drawn from one of golf’s greatest players.
This encounter with Woods serves as both a reminder and a motivation for Cantlay as he strives for greatness in the upcoming tournament.