PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — If Tiger Woods played any golf today, it wasn’t here. But by half past four he was on the practice tee in a spitting rain, the heavy stuff moving in. He was in no rush to go anywhere.

The 43-year-old Masters champ — the 43-year-old Masters champ! — was struggling with his right-foot footing and hitting more than a few dead pulls. Now and again, Woods took a few steps backwards to consult with Matt (Not the Swing Coach) Killen, notably a nice person with whom Woods can talk shop.

It wasn’t as if Woods’ bad shots were so alarming. Every top-10 player — Woods is ranked fifth in the world — has bad practice sessions. What was alarming was his disposition. Tiger Woods seemed to be having the time of his life out there.

There was a little entourage in close proximity. His designated wingman, Rob McNamara. Notah Begay, Golf Channel headphones strapped on his Stanford-educated head. Henni Zuel, Tiger’s good-humored GolfTV interlocutor. And of course Joe LaCava, Woods’s caddie. At 4:40 p.m., McNamara finally raised the mainsail — a black umbrella stamped TGR in white letters. There was some mildly ironic cheering among the 200 or so spectators in the bleachers, 100 or so yards away. The Open doesn’t like the crowds too near the players these days. Years ago, it was the complete opposite.