Tiger raring to take on Young Turks
WITH his 40th birthday one week away, Tiger Woods looks forward optimistically to playing golf pain-free next year while he reflects on a 2015 campaign blighted by injuries, poor form and a plummeting world ranking.
The greatest player of his generation, Woods has not won a tournament anywhere since the 2013 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, and his title drought in the major championships dates back to the 2008 US Open.
Woods, the world No 1 for a record total of 683 weeks who is now ranked 414th, said earlier this month that he was in the dark about the future of his playing career, asking himself: “Where is the light at the end of the tunnel?”
Yet the winner of 79 career PGA Tour events now says he believes he will still be contending, and emerging triumphant, in the majors over the next five to 10 years, while “still playing golf at the highest level”.
This week Woods said: “The thing I’m looking forward to the most about 2016 is getting back out there again. I’ve missed it, and I would like to do it pain-free. I haven’t done that in what seems like a long time. I’ve had it in spurts the last few years, and have done some pretty good things, but I’d like to have sustained health.”
Woods, who has slipped in recent years due to injuries and mastering of a new swing, thought he was back to form after tying for 10th at the Wyndham Championship in August, following a dismal season in which he missed three cuts in the majors.
But three weeks later he had a second microdiscectomy surgery to alleviate pressure on a disc in his lower back, before needing another procedure on October 28 on the same area due to discomfort.
“As far as 2015 goes, it was a tough year physically and took a toll on my body,” said Woods, whose career tally of 14 major victories is surpassed only by Jack Nicklaus (18).
“I had to battle through a swing pattern change and get that organised, because it was awful at the beginning of the year ... The frustrating part was not being able to build on it throughout the year. To finally have it switch and turn in the last event I played at the Wyndham Championship, and lo and behold, then I can’t physically do it any more ... so it’s been a roller-coaster ride the entire year.”
This week he appeared to be much more confident about his prospects.
“Where do I see myself in the next five to 10 years? I am still playing golf at the highest level and winning tournaments and major championships,” Woods said.
As for the short-term, he has set his sights on watching his beloved Stanford University Gridiron team and also the latest blockbuster to emerge from Hollywood.
“I am looking forward to watching Stanford play Iowa in the Rose Bowl on January 1 on TV,” Woods said.
“I’ve followed the team every game. If I can’t watch it live, every game is DVR’d and I’ve seen every play. I want to see the new Star Wars: The Force Awakens. I was a total geek growing up and had Star Wars wallpaper in my room. My kids love it, too.”
Meanwhile, a changing of the guard in professional golf is in full swing and early returns show that the sport’s young guns are drawing viewers even as Woods fades from the spotlight, says Golf Channel president Mike McCarley.
“2015 is going to match the highest-rated year ever on Golf Channel, matching 2013, the year when Tiger won five times,” McCarley said.
That was 20-year-old Golf Channel’s previous high-water mark in terms of television ratings, and the last splash from Woods, who won five of 16 tour- naments he played in 2013 and was named PGA Tour Player of the Year for a remarkable 11th time.
Since then, back injuries have derailed him, but the rise of Jordan Spieth, Jason Day and Rickie Fowler to join 26year-old Rory McIlroy in golf ’s elite has captured the attention of golf viewers.
“Looking back, 2015 may have been the changing of the guard,” said McCarley, whose channel is available to some 80 million households in the US and whose programming reaches more than 80 countries worldwide in 12 languages.
The next era for golf is likely to contrast with the reign of Woods, who dominated the game and carried fan interest on his shoulders, and McCarley sensed that a new age of rivalries was looming.
“These are young players who are going to be around for 20 years, and it will take some time for them to build their fan bases,” he said. “We’re on the very leading edge of this trip, but we’re seeing the momentum build significantly.”
Spieth got the 2015 major championship season off to a flying start with his decisive win at the Masters, and followed that with victory at the US Open two months later.
The Texan, who is now aged 22, made a run at winning a third in a row, finishing one shot out of a play-off at the British Open, and then was runner-up to 28-year-old Day of Australia at the PGA Championship.
Fowler, 27, joined the party with a play-off victory at The Players Championship, while four-time major winner McIlroy will be back at full strength after being sidelined in midseason by an ankle injury sustained playing soccer.
“I think rivalries are great for the game,” the Golf Chan- nel chief said.
“Sports are driven by stars, but when you have stars who also have rivals, and they are battling it out on a regular basis, I think it can be really, really compelling.”
The 2015 first quarter ratings for Golf Channel were down 14 percent compared to the year before, but momentum shifted with Spieth’s win at the Masters.
The second quarter showed a gain of 3 percent over the year before, and grew to an increase of 8 percent in the next quarter before booming to a 13 percent year-ago gain in the last period.
McCarley noted a competitive parallel in the women’s game with the rise of 18-yearold Lydia Ko of New Zealand as world No 1, and a natural rivalry with American Lexi Thompson, the 20-year-old world No 4.
“Looking ahead, 2016 is shaping up as a transformational year for the game of golf,” he said.
McCarley also pointed to golf ’s return to the Olympics for the first time since 1904 at next year’s Rio Games.
“You have to look at the Olympics as a real opportunity for the game of golf, a longterm opportunity,” said McCarley, whose channel will broadcast the men’s and women’s Olympic tournaments live in their entirety.
“I think the Olympics in Rio will start spreading a seed for the global growth of the game,” he said.
“Countries are developing junior golf programmes, grass roots programmes they would never have developed if not for golf being included in the Olympic programme.
“You’re going to start seeing kids in countries who never wanted to pick up a golf club, and now they do.” Conditions: Pleasant and warmer with partial sunshine. Rock and Surf: The harbour has been quiet this week, with some activity along Wilson’s Wharf. In the mornings, the Blue Lagoon north banks have produced good catches of decentsized shad and kingfish. Durban has seen a load of fish ranging from snoek to tuna and lots of dorado. Further south, there have been masses of dorado and tuna off Rocky Bay and Toti, which seem to have been moving further south by the day. In the Kosi Bay region and towards Sodwana, reports have been received throughout the week of kingfish being caught on live bait, as well as plugs. Some excellent blue-fin kingies being landed on plug, as well as dropshot in the shallows. The outfit of choice here has been the Latest Exceler Saltwater series 10’ 6” three-piece, paired with a Daiwa Exceler 4000HA reel. For more information, go online to kingfisher.co.za Weekly Tip: Port Edward has been a phenomenal yellowtail spot over the past week, and with the good weather coming up, will surely keep up good reports. Fish of 20kg have not been uncommon and have been coming out in good numbers on bottom rigs, with live bait used. Make sure to fish with good quality hooks, such as Mustad Hoodlums, which will do a great job. TIDES, WINDS, ETC.: Sunrise: 4.55am; Sunset: 6.59pm; Temp: 22°C/27°C; Sea: 23.4°C; UV risk: 8 (Very High); Wind: 22km/h (NE) Full Moon: January 10; Tides: Spring (High), Low: 10.45am, 11.05pm (0.2m); High: 4.50am, 5.00pm (2m); Sea: 1.8m swell.
Hiking
JOIN the Amblers or the Durban Ramblers for their upcoming hikes at 2pm on Sundays. Today: At 2pm, hike Palmiet Nature Reserve off Old New Germany Road, opposite Westville Hotel. Hike under the canopy of trees to Helicopter rock and cascade. Early dinner after at Waxies. Call David on 072 615 0559. January 3: At 2pm, hike Giba Gorge Mountain Bike Park, to enjoy the waterfalls and cascades. Afterwards enjoy cold beer or tea and cake at the restaurant. Entrance R20. Call Lawson at 083 716 2086. January 2: Hike the Longshadows Trail, KKNR with the Durban Ramblers Club. Call hike leader Linda on 083 353 8319. Meet at the main entrance of the Krantzkloof Nature Reserve (Kloof Falls Road) at 1.45pm. Cost: R20. Pretty forested walk along a stream. Drinks afterwards at the Nature Café in Kloof Falls Road. Grading: 1, easy distance of 6km. January 9: Durban Ramblers’ Herbies Hike, Roosfontein, Westville. Call hike leader, Werner, on 084 206 7836. Meet at 13.45 at the parking lot outside Westville Prison (Harry Gwala Road). Hike is through grasslands and some forest;, ensure you bring enough water. R20 donation towards the upkeep of the reserve. Meet afterwards for drinks at the Pavilion. Grading: Moderate, Distance: 7km January 10: Durban Ramblers Club hike the Blythedale Beach and Forest. Call hike leader Jon Stevens on 082 459 1522. Meet at Virginia Airport at 6.30am or Blythedale Beach parking area at 7.30am. Hike along the beach to the Mvoti Estuary and back through Jon’s mystical forest. Petrol sharing from Virginia Airport R50. Grading: 2, Distance: about 15km. January 10: At 2pm, hike Delvillewood, the train tracks and tunnels to the beautiful waterfall on mainline. Meet at the Assagay Hotel verge, 2pm. Car guards, R10 per person. Occasional hike, so don’t miss it. Call Lawson on 083 716 2086. January 17: Hike Mariannhill Monastery at 2pm. Hike around the building and surrounding farm area and enjoy an introduction to the monastery’s history. Tea and scones afterwards. Donation: R20 each, which goes towards monastery. Call David on 072 615 0559.
Swimming
January 17: The Dolphin Mile is a Midmar Mile seeding event at Marine Surf Lifesaving Club. Start: 7am. Registration: 6-7am. Type: 1.6km. Cost: Pre-Entry: R100, Late entry, R100. For more info, go online to roag.co.za or dolphinmile.co.za