Tiger 'touched' by fellow golfers' support
LOS ANGELES: Tiger Woods, recovering in hospital after surgery for serious leg injuries received in a solo car smash, tweeted thanks on Sunday (Monday in Manila) for a show of support from fellow pro golfers.
“It is hard to explain how touching today was when I turned on the TV and saw all the red shirts,” the 15-time major champion said in a tweet.
“To every golfer and every fan, you are truly helping me get through this tough time.”
A host of golfers at the World Golf Championships Workday Championship in Bradenton, Florida — and quite a few at the LPGA Tour event in Orlando, as well — took the course for their final rounds wearing Woods' signature Sunday colors of red and black.
The PGA Tour tweeted a picture of the maintenance staff at its Puerto Rico Open on Sunday (Monday in Manila) all turned out in red and black.
Former world No. 1 Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood and Tony Finau at the WGC and Phil Mickelson at a PGA Tour Champions event were some of the players who turned out wearing Woods' iconic color combo.
“I guess for us it's just a gesture to let him know that we're thinking about him and we're rooting for him,” McIlroy said. “Obviously things are looking a little better today than they were on Tuesday, but he's still got ways to go.
“He's got a huge recovery ahead of him. But I think [it's] just for everyone to show their appreciation for what he means to us out here.
“If there was no Tiger Woods, I just think the tour and the game of golf in general would be in a worse place. He's meant a lot to us; he still does mean a lot to us, and I think that was just a little way to show that.” AFP