Tiger: Ocean Course a ‘big ballpark’ for PGA Championship on Kiawah Island

Tiger Woods is in Akron, Ohio today for the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone tournament, but his yacht and his thoughts are in the Lowcountry.

At a news conference in Arkon today, Woods talked about his experience playing the Ocean Course on Tuesday in preparation for next week’s PGA Championship on Kiawah Island.

“It’s going to be long,” the 14-time major champion said of the Ocean Course, which will play at 7,676 yards for the PGA Championship, the longest in tournament history. “I think it’s going to be close to 7,700 yards, and that’s a big ballpark.”

Woods, whose yacht -- ironically named “Privacy” -- has been spotted in Lowcountry waters, noted the isolated nature of the Ocean Course, located at the far end of Kiawah Island.

“I don’t know how spectators are going to get around this place,” he said. “First of all, I don’t know how they’re going to get to it. But once they’re there, it’s going to be a great environment.”

Woods, who has won four PGA titles, also talked about the changing winds at the Ocean Course, located along 2.5 miles of beachfront on the Atlantic Ocean.

“It’s going to take a little bit of getting used to,” he said. “Being seaside, the wind can change. The wind comes out of different directions. There’s so much room out there, but as soon as the wind starts blowing 20, 30 miles an hour, there’s not much room.”

Woods has won the WCG-Bridgestone seven times, so he’ll likely be in Akron until late Sunday. But he’s eager to get back to the Ocean Course, where practice rounds begin on Monday.

“I need some more practice rounds on it for sure,” he said. “But I did most of our charting. I’d still like to see it under different wind conditions, because we only played one wind (Tuesday).”