CARNOUSTIE, Scotland — It has been five years and four back surgeries since Tiger Woods last contended at a British Open. He has not swung a club in the event since 2015, when he missed the cut.
Thursday at Carnoustie, Woods will once again be making a comeback. Feel free to yawn or roll your eyes.
The golf world has been here before, and not long ago. In April, the breathless longing for Woods to reclaim a piece of his former greatness made him a favorite at the Masters.
He instead finished tied for 32nd. Given that outcome, making Woods a favorite this week might seem equally foolhardy, if not downright irrational.