At peace with himself, Tiger Woods not chasing Majors
- par Rene Duval
- dans Sport
- — Déc 4, 2019
While Mickelson is not the only big-name golfer to agree to play the Saudi International - 2019 victor Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Brooks Koepka, Sergio Garcia and Tony Finau are among those who are also scheduled to compete - Mickelson's decision is the one that led to questions for Woods.
Having already won three times 2019, Rahm is now attempting to join Woods as the only other player to win HWC back-to-back.
His countless fans expected Woods to triumph even when he was not in the best shape but now that the 43-year-old is back to winning ways, expectations have only grown. This week at the Hero World Challenge, in the Bahamas, he doubles up as the Host and a prime contender for a title he has won five times, but not since 2011.
"Interestingly, when I have done well here, it has acted like a springboard to my following season".
"The only thing that I have control over at the Hero is the first-round pairings", Woods said.
"Unfortunately, 2016 wasn't very good, I built on 17 and then 18 and now 19". "Last year was out first crack at it and, talking to some of the guys after the Tour Championship (first win since 2013), over the next few years you will see guys make adjustments and see what is best for them and their schedule. And here I am now in front of you, as the Masters champion", said Woods, who has had to endure multiple back surgeries. Coupled with the goodwill generated by his 2019 Masters triumph, it's likely the 15-time major victor will receive his share of support from the Aussie galleries. The champion golfer is 24-15-1 in eight appearances while he has a losing record in the same number of Ryder Cups with 13 wins, 21 losses and 3 halves.
A fourth win in 2019 will also make it his best year in terms of golf.
Having won on each of his last two starts in Spain and in Dubai, he is on a hat-trick.
Rahm smiled and answered when asked if his wedding preparations could distract him this week.
"I'm excited for the opportunity to go down there and play with the rest of the guys on the team", he added.
"Its not like my mind's going to wander".
"More than anything, I want them to use that as a tournament to get sharp, knock the rust off and be ready to go to Oz and be ready to bring home a Cup".
"It was a joke, but turned into reality".
Of the 12 times the Presidents Cup has been contested, the US has lost just once, although that also was at Royal Melbourne in 1998 when Jack Nicklaus was the captain. "The guys know that I'm going to be responsible for the points when I am playing and I'm at the focus and do my job", explained Woods. And the role's not easy. "Then I've been organizing these two weeks - working with my staff here (at the Hero World Challenge), and then working with the Tour, and communicating with the guys for next week, making sure everything is in line".
Hero MotoCorp chairman Pawan Munjal, who will be working alongside Woods in restoration work of the affected islands, said: "Two of the islands were really, really devastated badly".
"Every birdie counts for USD 500, every eagle for USD 1,000 and every ace gets USD 2,500. It is one of the hardest dinners you have to get into".
The tournament purse is Dollars 3.5 million and the victor gets USD 1 million.
