Woods, Manning prevail in celebrity match, raising $20m for charity

Tiger Woods says while his surgically repaired back may never be 10-out-of-10 again, it won’t stop him from being healthy and ready to go when the PGA Tour starts up again.

The 44-year-old Woods says he’s been able to use the down time during the coronavirus pandemic to get himself in shape for an expected condensed golf season.

“It is going to be interesting,” Woods said during a charity golf tournament in Florida.

“I am used to trying to peak for majors in April, May, June and July, forever.

“Now this [Covid-19] has changed everything.”

Asked to rate how his back feels on a scale of one to 10, Woods said: “Well, let’s just say 10 is not what it used to be.”

PGA stars Woods and Phil Mickelson and NFL quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Tom Brady squared off in an entertaining made-for-television charity golf event on Sunday that raised $20m (R351m) for coronavirus relief efforts.

The 18-hole match included nine holes of four-ball and nine holes of modified alternate shot, with on-course challenges for charitable funds.

Woods, who paired with Manning, showed no rust as they held off a back-nine rally from Mickelson and Brady for a one-up victory in the 18-hole match play format.

Sunday’s event, “The Match: Champions for Charity,” was a rematch of sorts for Mickelson and Woods, who faced off in a similar charity event last year in Las Vegas.

It also marked a return to the golf course for both PGA stars due to the pandemic.

The PGA Tour is on hiatus until June 11, when the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial is scheduled to begin in Texas.

Woods said the forced break had been refreshing and described his health as surprisingly good, considering he had been taken out of his regular training regime.

“It is to nice be at home training each and every day,” Woods said.

The start of Sunday’s match was delayed by rain.

Woods helped offset the difficult playing conditions by taking advantage of competing on his home course, the Medalist Golf Club in Hobe Sound.

The entertaining match featured plenty of friendly banter between four of North America’s biggest sport stars.

Brady, who signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after winning six Super Bowl titles with the New England Patriots, made the shot of the day on the par-five seventh.

Brady had been struggling but his approach on No 7 landed just past the hole before spinning wildly to the right and rolling into the centre of the cup.

The shot was notable for another reason: it included a wardrobe malfunction. Brady also split his pants on the shot.

“There was so much torque on that swing,” he joked.