ARDMORE, Pa. — It’s coming up on the three-year anniversary of Sean Foley starting to work with Tiger Woods, and the coach has watched the world’s No. 1 player in good times and bad, including injuries. Yet Foley said he thinks the left elbow pain Tiger has dealt with through the first two rounds of the U.S. Open at Merion is no big deal.
“There is a difference between injury and pain,” Foley told The Post Friday afternoon. “I don’t really think it’s anything.”
Woods finished the first 36 holes at 3-over, four shots behind the clubhouse leader Billy Horschel. Because of weather delays on Thursday, Woods finished his first-round 73 yesterday morning, then picked up his second round just about an hour later, shooting an even-par 70.
He admitted he hurt his elbow at The Players Championship in early May, with his only competition between now and then being the Memorial two weeks ago, when he finished 65th at 8-over.
“It is what it is,” Woods said when asked if the elbow was any better yesterday than Thursday, when he showed obvious pain on at least three different occasions.
“All the guys are dealing with something,” Foley said. “Everyone out there, if the camera was on them for every shot out of the rough, you would see them doing it, too. All of that force has to go somewhere, and it gets absorbed into the body.”
Woods friend and Golf Channel commentator Notay Begay III said the three-time Open winner received electric stimulation along with an ice treatment on Thursday night as he strives for his 15th major championship. The last major he claimed was the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, when he won on a partially broken leg.
“He drove it beautifully today,” Foley said. “His game from tee to green has been solid. It shows how tough the course is. If you hit a bad shot, you really get penalized. It’s been good as whole — make some putts tomorrow and get after it.”