Until Tuesday, Tiger Woods had never played at Merion, site of the 113th U.S. Open just outside of Philadelphia next month.
Woods made a stop in Ardmore, Pa., on a rainy day to get in a round at the host site of the national championship ahead of landing in Dublin, Ohio, to defend his title in this week's Memorial Tournament.
The world No. 1 played in just about three hours, accompanied only by Merion member Buddy Marucci. Woods beat Marucci in the final of the 1995 U.S. Amateur, the second of three consecutive titles Woods would win in that event before turning pro. Caddie Joe Lacava walked the grounds the day prior to get a feel for the track, according to a Golf.com report.
Few players have seen Merion, as it last hosted the U.S. Open in 1981. The U.S. Amateur was held there in 2005, won by Edoardo Molinari, with the Walker Cup being played there between the U.S. and Great Britain & Ireland in 2009. Marucci captained the victorious American side in those matches. American pros Rickie Fowler, Bud Cauley, Brian Harman, Cameron Tringale and recent European Tour winner Peter Uihlein were on that team.
For pictures of Woods' day at Merion, check out this gallery from Philadelphia ABC affiliate WPVI-TV.
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