HOYLAKE, England -- Tiger Woods was an early arrival to the British Open with hopes of avoiding an early departure. [url=http://www.nhlflyersproauthentic.com/carter-hart-hockey-jersey/]Car ter Hart Flyers Jersey[/url] . Woods has played only two competitive rounds in the last four months because of ba

HOYLAKE, England -- Tiger Woods was an early arrival to the British Open with hopes of avoiding an early departure. Carter Hart Flyers Jersey . Woods has played only two competitive rounds in the last four months because of back pain that led to surgery. Thats why he chose to get to England a day earlier than usual -- Saturday -- to get acclimated to links golf at Royal Liverpool. Its nothing like he remembers from his two-shot victory in 2006. Hoylake was brown and dusty that year, and the ball was bouncing along at such speed that Woods hit only one driver the entire week. That was on the 16th hole, and the shot wound up on the 17th fairway. He still made birdie. "The golf course is a little bit softer than what it was in 06," Woods said on Tuesday. "Ive played three practice rounds now and have had three different winds. So thats been helpful to be able to see the golf course in different conditions." As an example of the change, Woods pulled out a driver on the par-5 fifth hole with the wind in his face. His tee shot landed in the fairway. That he already has played three practice rounds has been encouraging. Woods missed the cut at Congressional in his return to competition three weeks ago, though he was pleased that he felt no pain from March 31 back surgery. He even has been to the gym twice in the last couple of days. Woods played 12 holes on Saturday and a full 18 on Sunday and Tuesday, taking a break Monday to work out and then go to the practice range. "Its one of the reasons why I came over a little earlier," he said. " I went to Geneva for a day with Rolex, but I came here a day earlier than I normally would to have an extra day in there, as well as possibly taking a day off, if need be. And it worked out." As for his goals? They havent changed. When asked what would be a reasonable result in his first major of the year, Woods replied, "First. "Thats always the case." The back surgery forced him to miss the Masters for the first time, and then the U.S. Open. The last time Woods had this much time off with so little competition before a major was in 2010 when he returned from the chaos in his personal life. He tied for fourth at the Masters. It might help that he at least has won at Royal Liverpool, even if the course has changed dramatically. Woods has changed, too. His victory eight years ago produced more raw emotion than ever for Woods. It was his first major since the death of his father, Earl, two months earlier. He sobbed on the shoulders of his caddie and then his wife. Woods now has a different caddie and he is divorced. "My life has certainly changed a lot since then," Woods said. "That was a very emotional week. As you all know, I pressed pretty hard at Augusta that year, trying to win it, because it was the last time my dad was ever going to see me play a major championship. And then I didnt play well at the (U.S.) Open -- missed the cut there miserably. And then came here and just felt at peace. I really, really played well. On Sunday, I really felt calm out there. "It was surreal at the time. Ive had a few moments like that in majors where Ive felt that way on a Sunday. And that was certainly one of them." The others were at the 1997 Masters, which he won by 12 shots; the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, which he won by 15 shots; and 2000 British Open at St. Andrews, which he won by eight shots to complete the career Grand Slam. Woods has won the career slam twice more since then, running his total to 14 majors by winning the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in 2008 despite not having played in two months because of torn ligaments in his left knee and a double stress fracture in his left leg. He said that victory, with the odds against him, should be a reminder not to count him out. And hes not ruling out his pursuit of Jack Nicklaus and his 18 majors. Woods, who is 38, was asked if he would play well into his 40s and even his early 50s if it meant a chance to break the Nicklaus benchmark. "Hopefully, I have it done by then. But Im really looking forward to that cart," he said, referring to Champions Tour players being allowed to ride in a cart. Michael Raffl Flyers Jersey .Y. - Islanders forward Anders Lee has been fined $2,286 by the NHL for elbowing St. Jaromir Jagr Jersey . And he said Sunday that players believe nobody in Sterlings family should be able to own the Los Angeles Clippers if hes gone. http://www.nhlflyersproauthentic.com/dave-schultz-hockey-jersey/ .com) - The Columbus Blue Jackets rewarded starting goaltender and pending restricted free agent Sergei Bobrovsky with a four-year contract extension on Friday.Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - South Dakota State University running back Zach Zenner believes playing against rival North Dakota State, the pre- eminent national power in the FCS, to be a privilege. You put yourself up against the best, you can see where you stack up, he said. Not every team gets to face the best team in the country and see where they are. We have that opportunity every year. The North Dakota State Bison, and many other teams, likely feel the same way about Zenner. Zenner concluded his senior season by surpassing 2,000 rushing yards for the third time, which had never occurred before in NCAA Division I history. Add in the three-time All-Americans 3.86 grade point average, and the numbers are especially mind-boggling for the inaugural recipient of the Mickey Charles Award, which honors academic achievement by an FCS student-athlete. Zenner will be honored Monday night at The Sports Network FCS Awards Banquet and Presentation along with the winners of the Walter Payton Award (FCS outstanding player), Buck Buchanan Award (FCS outstanding defensive player), Jerry Rice Award (FCS freshman of the Year) and Eddie Robinson Award (FCS coach of the year). The Mickey Charles Award is named for the CEO and President of The Sports Network. He recognized the need for national coverage of the FCS (formerly Division I-AA college football) before he created the FCS Awards in 1987. All Zenner has done in his glorious career is win awards, and lots of games for South Dakota State. The three-time Walter Payton Award finalist set Missouri Valley Football Conference career records for rushing yards (6,548), all-purpose yards (8,211), rushing touchdowns (61) and total touchdowns (69). Shayne Gostisbehere Jersey. He also set the conferences single-season records with 2,044 rushing yards in 2012 and 2,350 all-purpose yards this year. The biology/pre-medicine major from Eagan, Minnesota, was one of only four FCS players to be named to the 2014 National Football Foundation National Scholar- Athlete Class. He may go to medical school next year unless hes playing in the NFL, which is a distinct possibility. He is an inspiration to his teammates and all FCS student-athletes, MVFC commissioner Patty Viverito said, as he has clearly demonstrated throughout his collegiate career that, with passion and commitment, outstanding achievement in both athletics and academics is attainable. Zenner, a two-time team captain, is the president of SDSUs Student-Athlete Advisory Council which works as a liaison between the administration and its student-athletes; is a member of the universitys Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and went on a mission trip to Jamaica last spring break to build hurricane-proof homes and spread Christianity; and volunteers to be part of food and toy raising projects for the Brookings, South Dakota, community. Ive been blessed to be a part of a number of great teams and underneath a great coaching staff, Zenner said. What Ive tried to do during my time here is just take advantage of the opportunities that South Dakota State presented me with both athletically and academically. 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