Woods back to where his grand revival began
GOOD TIMES 14time Major winner ready for Hero World Challenge on the back of his 80th PGA Tour win at the Tour Championship
NASSAU,BAHAMAS: Tiger Woods is back on the greens of the same course where he pressed the restart button of his stuttering career a year ago.
When he played at the 2017 Hero World Challenge here at the Ernie Els-designed Albany Golf Course following a seven-month lay-off after spinal fusion surgery, he was ranked 1199 in the world. On Tuesday, as Hero Motocorp chairman Pawan Munjal announced the extension of the company’s association with the tournament and Woods for the next four years, his world ranking stands at 13 – a jump of 1186 places in 12 months. It comes on the back of his 80th PGA Tour title win at the Tour Championship and close calls at both The Open and PGA Championship.
Last year at the Hero World Challenge, a tournament where Woods plays the dual role of a competitor and host, the 42-yearold was paired with current world No 4, American Justin Thomas. This time too, Woods will tee-off on Thursday alongside the 25-year-old former world No 1 and hope to improve on his tied-9th finish in the 18-player invitational event knowing well that a win here could catapult him to 6th in the world, a ranking the 14-time Major winner hasn’t achieved since June, 2014.
It will be easier said than done. The field this time is arguably the strongest since Woods started this tournament in 2000 to benefit his charity foundation.
“It’s an elite field. Players love to come here because Albany is beautiful, laid back. The golf just adds to the settings. So hopefully, we will have an exciting four days,” Woods, who is suffering from a bout of cough and cold, told reporters on Tuesday.
Four of the world’s top five, six of the current top 10 including defending champion Rickie Fowler --- who is 9th now --- and world No 2 Justin Rose, the highest ranked here who knows a strong finish can get him to the top supplanting Brooks Koepka.
There is a possibility that Woods could play in India again sometime soon like he did in February 2014. “It’s definitely on the cards,” said Woods on Tuesday.
“The association with Hero has been a win-win situation for both of us and I am elated,” Woods added.
past Hero World Challenge winners:
Rickie Fowler (1) 2017; Hideki Matsuyama (1) 2016; Bubba Watson (1) 2015 and Tiger Woods (5) 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2011.
Swapna Barman said MC Mary Kom winning a sixth world title at the age of 35 inspires her to strive to return to the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) from where she has been dropped.
“I want to be like Mary didi. I don’t know if I can, she is 35 and I am only 22 but I will try,” said Barman on Tuesday at a felicitation programme on where Bandhan Bank gave her Rs 10 lakh for winning the heptathlon gold at the last Asian Games.
Barman said it was her performance that got her into TOPS, which provides financial aid to athletes, and she is confident of getting back into it by dint of her scores alone.
MARIN TO FACE SINDHU
NEW DELHI: The marquee clash between reigning Olympic champion Carolina Marin and PV Sindhu will mark the beginning of Premier Badminton League on December 22.
The fourth season of PBL will begin its journey from Mumbai.
Left-hander Marin, who will turn out for new team Pune 7 Aces, will open the campaign against her old team Hyderabad Hunters, which boasts of Sindhu now. Marin had helped Hyderabad win the title last year.
FMSCI ELECTIONS
CHENNAI: J. Prithiviraj was unanimously elected president of the Federation of Motor sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) at its AGM here on Tuesday. The vice-president Shivu Shivappa was also elected unopposed,