Tiger Woods missed defending his title last month at the AT&T National because of an elbow injury. With the British Open starting on Thursday, Woods insists his left elbow is better and shouldn't affect his play in the tournament, the Washington Post reports.
"The elbow feels good," Woods told reporters. "It's one of the good things of taking the time off to let it heal and get the treatment and therapy on it. The main reason was that coming over here, the ground is going to be hard, obviously. And I'm going to need that elbow to be good.
"... I need to have this thing set and healed, and everything is good to go."
His elbow injury became evident on the opening hole of last month's U.S. Open. He winced and favored his wrist after he tried to hit from the deep rough. The No. 5 hole appeared to further aggravate the injury. He finished tied for 32nd with a +13, his worst four-round score ever.
"I was examined after I returned home from the U.S. Open, and the doctors determined I have a left elbow strain," Woods said on his website in June. "I have been advised to take a few weeks off, rest and undergo treatment. I'll be ready to go for the British Open, and I'm looking forward to playing at Muirfield."
Woods is in pursuit of his fourth British Open championship. He tees off on Thursday, July 18 at 9:34 a.m. ET. He's paired with Graeme McDowell, winner of the 2010 U.S. Open, and Louis Oosthuizen, winner of the 2010 British Open.
