The Open Championship is finally starting this week with a long list of impressive golfers with their eyes set on adding a major win to their names. But the absence of golf legend  Tiger Woods, from the event is surely a source of disappointment for fans.

Though Woods registered a majestic win at Royal Liverpool at the 2006 Open Championship, he couldn’t participate this year owing to his injuries and surgery. And this news has not only saddened his fans, but also a certain DP World Tour pro who is participating in the tournament.

DP World Tour pro recalls the startling experience of seeing Woods at Open Championship

European Tour pro Matthew Jordan, has been a member of Hoylake since he was 7 years old. With the Open Championship being hosted at the Royal Liverpool, Jordan returns to his childhood club this week. On Thursday morning, Jordan will be doing the honor of hitting the tee shot and starting the game officially. And besides the big tournament, there is one more enthralling experience Jordan was looking forward to but unfortunately, he won’t be able to enjoy it.

Since his childhood golfing days, he has been a huge fan of Woods, who has been his lifelong idol. And Matthew was hoping to meet the golf GOAT at the game more than anything in the world, but Woods’ absence left this dreams hanging in the abyss. Speaking at the conference before the big tournament, Thomas gave some insights on his experiences where despite Woods being within walking distance of him, he couldn’t meet his idol owing to cold feet.

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When the media asked him about his previous experience of the Open at Royal Liverpool, Jordan answered “Yeah, in ’06 I think I was more bothered about getting signatures than anything else and kind of star-struck. I remember seeing Tiger in ’06 on the putting green, and I just could not approach him.”

Before 2023, The Open has been held at the Hoylake twice in 2006 and 2014, which Jordan has attended since his father was playing.

And both times Jordan’s attempt of meeting Woods has resulted in failure, because despite being a diehard fan, he couldn’t summon up the courage to approach Woods. “I think I saw him actually when it was in ’14, as well, and I still couldn’t approach him then. I have those memories.” Matthew has grown up watching Woods and has driven inspiration for his game from the legend.

Tiger Woods is a hero for Matthew Jordan

According to Jordan, these special instances are itched in his memory. “There’s things that just keep coming back to me. The more I think about it, the more obviously that comes up. It was two different times, but certainly in ’14 was kind of the more inspired Open for me because I can remember it more.” Jordan may not have been able to meet his idol but his excellent performances have always been an inspiration for him. “He was my kind of hero, and being able to see him in the flesh and watching him do what he did, especially around your home course, was immense.”

Jordan is about to tee up at the same golf course where Woods made the ecstatic win of 2006, and despite the disappointment of not meeting him, it has made Jordan very excited. And now how his lifelong familiarity with the course benefits him this week at such an important event will be worth watching.

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