PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland – Tiger Woods’ major campaign this season began with an incredible high, one of the biggest moments in his legendary career. But since then, it’s been mostly frustration and free weekends, with Woods facing the cruel realities of an older golfer struggling for consistency.

Woods shot a 1-under 70 in Friday’s second round of The Open Championship, but his 6-over total for the first two days at Royal Portrush left him well outside the cutline. It’s his second missed cut in the three majors since winning the Masters in April, and the seventh missed cut in his last 13 major starts dating back to the 2014 PGA Championship. Prior to that, he had missed the cut just three times in his first 61 major starts as a pro.

That was then. This is now. The new normal for Woods? He still has the game to compete; after all, he’s won twice in the last 12 months, including the 2018 TOUR Championship. But at age 43 and after four back surgeries, he no longer can contend on a weekly basis.

“One of the hardest things to accept as an older athlete is that you’re not going to be as consistent as you were at 23,” Woods said. “Things are different.

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PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (July 16, 2019) — PGA REACH, the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the PGA of America, has announced that the inaugural PGA HOPE National Golf & Wellness Week will take place from October 25-28, 2019, at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland.

PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) is a national program that introduces golf to military Veterans with disabilities to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. PGA HOPE helps veterans assimilate back into their communities through the social interaction the game provides.

Through a partnership between PGA REACH and Congressional Country Club, a group of Veterans who have graduated from their local PGA HOPE program will participate in the four-day program, which provides advanced golf instruction and wellness training. Each participating Veteran will receive a specially designed golf and wellness tool kit that includes golf training tips, exercises and other recommendations for healthy living.

“Golf is proven to be an effective part of the therapeutic rehabilitation process for many Veterans, and it’s inspiring to see PGA HOPE making a difference in their lives,” said PGA President Suzy Whaley. “PGA HOPE National Golf & Wellness Week and PGA National Day of HOPE serve as a centerpiece of growth, as we remain committed to elevating the program nationwide.”

Congressional Country Club’s PGA Director of Athletics, Jason Epstein, and his PGA Member staff will provide the instruction for PGA HOPE National Golf & Wellness Week. The wellness and healthy living training will be conducted by leaders in Veteran healthcare from Cohen Veterans Network (CVN) in Stamford, Connecticut. The overall curriculum will cover topics including nutrition, stress management, mental health and life skills. Group dinners will provide the Veterans an opportunity to engage with well-known golf figures, as well as national political and business leaders, and will encourage the participants to share stories of how golf has impacted their lives on and off the course.

Before every round Justin Rose plays on the PGA TOUR, he goes through an extensive warm up routine, and we have an all-access look at how he prepares for competition.

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland – When Tiger Woods made his lone birdie of the day with a lengthy putt at the par-4 15th, he raised both arms in mock celebration. It was that kind of day, one with plenty of frustration and very little to smile about at Royal Portrush.

Woods, the reigning Masters champ making his first start in a month, opened with a 7-over 78 -- his highest opening round in 21 starts in The Open Championship.

Playing in heavy rains at times and increasingly chilly weather, Woods struggled to convert putts and stay out of trouble. At one stretch in the middle of his round, he bogeyed five of six holes.

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PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland – Rory McIlroy’s return to Royal Portrush couldn’t have gotten off to a worse start.

McIlroy hit his opening tee shot out-of-bounds and made an 8 on the first hole. That matched the highest single-hole score of his PGA TOUR career. It was just the fourth quad he’s made in more than 10,000 holes played on the PGA TOUR (he’s never made worse than a quadruple-bogey, either), and his second in a major.

It couldn’t have come at a worse time. Anticipation has been high for The Open’s return to Northern Ireland after an absence that lasted nearly seven decades. And anticipation was high for McIlroy, who not only set the course record when he was 16 but was enjoying one of the best seasons of his career.

McIlroy shot 61 at Royal Portrush when he was 16. On Thursday, he took his 61st stroke on the 15th hole.

He also triple-bogeyed the final hole and signed for a 79. McIlroy had finished in the top 5 in his last four Open Championships, including a victory in 2014.

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