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Tiger Woods, Justin Thomas stop at Winged Foot for practice round ahead of next month's U.S. Open

August 17, 2020

Tiger Woods knew he was heading to the East Coast, so why not kill two birds with one stone? Ahead of this week’s Northern Trust, the first event of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Playoffs that begins Thursday at TPC Boston, Woods made a slight detour for an early look at Winged Foot, the site of next month’s U.S. Open.

Woods’ camp confirmed to Golf Digest that he stopped over in Mamaroneck, N.Y., for an 18-hole practice round alongside Justin Thomas before both players head to the Boston area on Monday night. A video was posted to Instagram showing the two players hitting balls off mats at Winged Foot’s driving range.

Woods has frequently visited major championship venues early to play played practice rounds before tournament week, including a round at Bethpage Black eight days before last year’s PGA Championship.

The U.S. Open at Winged Foot, which will be played without fans, is set to begin Sept. 17. Woods has played two prior majors at Winged Foot, finishing T-29 at the 1997 PGA Championship and missing his first cut in a major as a professional at the 2006 U.S. Open, played shortly after the death of his father.