Tiger Woods admits Open prep affected by attempted assassination of Donald Trump

Tiger Woods admits he did not sleep a wink on his flight over to Royal Troon as a result of the attempted assassination of former US President Donald Trump. 

Thomas Matthew Crooks attempted to assassinate former President Trump at a rally near Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday night. 

He killed an audience member, critically injured two other audience members, and injured Trump in his upper right ear.

Crooks was then shot and killed by the United States Secret Service Counter Sniper Team.

Woods, 48, made his feelings be known about Trump during an interview with BBC Sport on the eve of this week's Open. 

"I didn’t accomplish a lot because I wasn’t in the right frame of mind," said Woods.

"It was a long night, and that’s all we watched the entire time on the way over here. 

"I didn’t sleep at all on the flight."

Woods is understood to be good friends with No.45 and they have played numerous rounds of golf together over the years.

Trump also presented the 15-time major champion with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is recognized as the highest civilian award in the United States. 

Woods is competing in just his fifth tournament of 2024 at this week's Open Championship at Royal Troon.

In four starts this year, Woods withdrew during the Genesis Invitational, finished 60th at The Masters and then missed the cut at both the US PGA and US Open.

Woods' former long-time golf coach Hank Haney tweeted earlier this week that he considers The Open is Woods' best chance of another major win. 

He also likes how he's hitting it.

The former World No.1 spoke to the media on Tuesday. 

He hit back at claims from Colin Montgomerie last week that he should hang up his spikes and retire from the game.

Woods was asked by one reporter if what Monty said was 'hurtful'.

"Well, as a past champion, I'm exempt until I'm 60," said three-time Open champion Woods. 

"Colin's not. He's not a past champion, so he's not exempt. So he doesn't get the opportunity to make that decision. I do."

Woods added: "So when I get to his age, I get to still make that decision, where he doesn't."