Up and operating: Tiger Woods in the course of the Pro Am spherical of Hero World Challenge.
| Photo Credit: Special Arranegement
Tiger Woods could not discover favour with the bookmakers, however as all the time, his mere presence is sufficient to generate buzz. The Hero World Challenge, which commences right here on Thursday, marks Woods’ comeback after one more harm lay-off.
The event will present a measure of the place Woods stands, each by way of fitness and type. Woods’ troublesome ankle, which flared up in the course of the third spherical of the Masters in April, might be put to the test over 90 holes (together with the Pro-Am).
Woods, 47, will even play with son Charlie within the 2023 PNC Championship on the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club Orlando in a few weeks.
On electing to return to his residence event, Woods mentioned, “the smaller field size, and the fact that it’s at the end of the year — which sets me up for expectations going into the following year — is a nice landing spot. This is a good springboard into the following year, and my foundation benefits from it. So there’s so many positives that come from playing in this event,” Woods mentioned.
The event is a profit for the Tiger Woods Foundation, and gamers will obtain Official World Golf Ranking factors.
Favouring lengthy drives
The Albany course, designed by Ernie Els, favours lengthy drives and low scores. This fits Viktor Hovland simply wonderful, because the Norwegian enters the event because the two-time defending champion.
Having received the current BMW Championship and the Tour Championship, Hovland will as soon as once more put on the tag of favorite on this 20-man discipline.
Hovland might be pursued by Scottie Scheffler, who completed second within the earlier two editions.
U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark and British Open winner Brian Harman are among the different contenders. Will Zalatoris makes his first begin after again surgical procedure.
The Hero World Challenge carries a $4.5 million complete purse, with $1 million reserved for the winner.
(The author is in Nassau, Bahamas on invitation from Hero MotoCorp)
