Wind, short iron key as Challenge starts

Tackling the wind and short iron play will be key factors at the course here, venue of the $3.5 million Hero World Challenge that teed off on Thursday. Almost every player coming off the Albany fairways on Wednesday made a mention of the first factor, and how much wedge use would matter on this par-72 7,000-plus yard course.

Said tournament host Tiger Woods after his ProAm round on Wednesday, “This golf course is playing tough, it’s just whipping out here. But I think they (green-keepers) did the right thing, slowed the greens down, single cut them because they would have been too quick with this much wind.”

Asked if the round had help ease into tournament mode, Woods said, “I did a little bit of work for probably 12 holes or so.

“I probably did a dumb move in not playing in sunglasses out here because we’re in carts zipping around and walking between holes and I’m starting to get a pretty good headache from squinting so much. Live and learn and tomorrow I’ll have them on.”

So what were his focus areas? “Probably my putting. My speed’s off. I did some work two and three days ago, but they were double cut and now they’re single cut, different speed. Most of my putts I left short. The last couple of holes I made a couple of putts. I’m going to hit it at least four, five feet past the hole, I don’t care, and they were going about a foot past.

“I felt good with pretty much everything. I was able to hit all the shots I needed to hit. The wind was definitely pumping today and it was good to see it under — in this direction. The time since I’ve been here on Saturday it’s been blowing out of the other direction, so it’s good to see it out of this direction.”

For player of the year Dustin Johnson, it is his swing that led to a series of consistent results. Known for his long hitting, Johnson felt it was his short game that was making the difference.

“I don’t think the distance has anything to do with it, just a lot of work that I put in on the wedge game, that was a big factor this year. And then why I hit it so far, ask my coach because I just swing it and hit it.”

For Olympic silver medallist Henrik Stenson, much of his success comes from the mental side. Speaking after Wednesday’s round, the Swede said, “Golf is a game where you’re never going to reach that goal where you’re finished. You can always be better at all the different areas of the game.”