Top

Stage is set for Tiger Woods’ return

Former world number one would be looking to get back into winning ways

Orlando (USA): Eighteen of the world’s best golfers go into action in the Hero World Challenge at the par-72 Isleworth Golf and Country Club from Thursday, vying for the $3.5 million up for grabs a million dollars going to the winner. The tournament, part of the PGA Tour’s 2015 calendar is a fund-raising initiative of the Tiger Woods Foundation, and the former world number one will himself be looking to get back to winning ways after an unhappy 2014 with a strong performance at what has been his home course for years.

This year, the field runs from world No.4 Henrik Stenson of Sweden down till world 27th ranked American Patrick Reed, a late replacement for countryman Jim Furyk, who withdrew with an injured back last week. Stong contenders this time include Englishman Justin Rose, seventh-ranked Bubba Watson of the USA, Australian Open champion Jordan Speith, the exciting Rickie Fowler of the USA who has been giving world No.1 Rory McIlroy a hard time all year at the business end of the biggies, among others.

Attention, though, is still centred around how Woods himself will go. One disastrous comeback earlier this year stalled when he failed to make the cut at the PGA Championship at Valhalla in August, and the 14-time Major winner admitted on Wednesday that he was still feeling his way back. “It will be interesting to go out there and see how long does it takes to get my feel back for game shots; feel for my numbers; feel for my yardages; hitting the ball a certain trajectory; what’s the wind doing; all the little things, hearing things; and making adjustments on my downswing.

“Sometimes it takes me a shot, sometimes it takes me three or four holes after a long layoff. We’ll see on Thursday.” The Isleworth is testing territory, among the best amongst the 100-odd golf courses that dot the Orlando area and with its eight lakes and one pond, has enough to make the best of golfers wary.

Next Story