Will he, or won’t he?
Although Tiger Woods didn’t provide any timeline for when he would again tee up on the PGA Tour, there is continued speculation that the 15-time Major champion is on course to play with his son Charlie in the PNC Championship in Orlando on December 18th-19th.
His long time friend Notah Begay, speaking on the Golf Channel, explained his reasoning behind why he believed Woods - who has been rehabilitating from serious leg injuries sustained in a car crash earlier this year - would play: “Tiger can ride a cart, he can drive up basically to the golf ball and almost onto the green, so the walking might not be as much of a stress on the leg . . . but he can also play Charlie’s drives (in the scramble format). I covered them for the majority of that event last year and Charlie was hitting most of the drives because of where his tees are at, and he’s such a ball-striker that they were taking advantage of his drives because they were much farther than where Tiger’s ball were off the tee.”
The tournament organisers have left one spot in the field free in the hope that Woods will decide to play.
McDowell hoping to end on a high
Graeme McDowell will hope to finish off what was a hugely disappointing season with a pick-me-up when he teams up with Corey Conners in this weekend’s QBE Shootout at Tiburon in Florida.
A regular in the end-of-season team event, G-Mac has finished runner-up on no fewer than three occasions and Canadian Conners will be the Northern Irishman’s seventh different partner in the tournament.
McDowell - who underwent surgery on a muscle in his arm mid-season - started the year ranked 80th in the world but has fallen to 308th in the latest rankings, having also missed his last three starts in the Mayakoba, Houston Open and the RSM Classic.
Word of Mouth
"I'm not one of those people who can put their clubs away from four weeks and come back and feel good about where my swing is at and whatnot . . . . I'll just get out with my buddies, play a little bit more hit-and-giggle golf, have fun and play with the boys at home" - Scottie Scheffler on intending to stay in trhythm over the winter break with some fun golf after a season which saw him record 10 top-10s on the PGA Tour, but still chasing that elusive win.
By the Numbers
48/46 - Go figure? Viktor Hovland got 48 world ranking points for winning the Hero World Challenge. Collin Morikawa got 46 world ranking points for winning the recent DP World Tour Championship. Something doesn't quite add up!!
On this day
December 7th 2003 - In what was the season-opening tournament of the 2004 European Tour season, Pádraig Harrington produced a stunning birdie-birdie finish to claim the Omega Hong Kong Open.
The Dubliner - in what was his eighth career win on the European Tour - fired rounds of 67-69-67-66 for a total of 11-under-par 209, a shot clear of South African Hennie Otto. Darren Clarke was among a group of four players who finished four strokes adrift of Harrington in tied-third.
Otto had edged into the lead as Harrington faced into the final stretch. He’d worked hard to save par on the 16th and then birdied the 17th before hitting an approach shot to 20 feet on the 18th to set up a winning birdie.
“I was happy with my game and expecting to do well. I knew that a lot of people would have to shoot well to keep up with me. The first nine holes I focused really well, hit all the fairways, all the greens and it was as easy a three-under par as I’ve ever shot . . . it was only when I got to the 16th I realised Hennie had overtaken me. My mindset changed totally and I got very aggressive and really got back into focus those last three holes. It was nice to turn it around like that.”
Twitter Twaddle
"I didn't want to let the International Day of Disability pass without saying a few words. I knew from my early years that I was 'different' due to my disability but I also always recognised that so many people (both able and disabled bodies) have challenges and barriers that have to overcome in everyday life. I am no different to that. All I hope is that I can continue to fly the flag for those with a disability and continue to help people recognize that we are no different and can achieve amazing things with hard work, support and determination" - Brendan Lawlor, the Dundalk golfer who is ranked number one in the Word Disabled Golf rankings.
"SICK" - Max Homa's reaction to Henrik Stenson and Jordan Spieth being each assessed two stroke penalties for playing from the wrong tee during the final round of the Hero World Challenge.
"Congratulations to Viktor Hovland on a great win at the #HeroWorldChallenge. Thank you to our partner @HeroMotoCorp and everyone who supported this tournament and @TGRFound. It was great to be back!" - Tiger Woods.
In the Bag
Viktor Hovland
Hero World Challenge
Driver -Ping G425 LST (9 degrees)
3-wood - TaylorMade SIM (15 degrees)
7-wood - Ping G425 Max (20.5 degrees)
Irons - Ping i210 (4-PW)
Wedges - Ping Glide Forged Pro (50 and 56 degrees), Titleist Vokey Design Wedge Works SM8 (60 degrees)
Putter - Ping PLD Prototype
Ball - Titleist ProV1
Know the Rules
Q - Player B's ball was lying badly. B was deliberating what action to take and Player A, his marker, said: "You have no shot at all. If I were you, I would declare the ball unplayable." What is the ruling?
A - As Player A's suggestion could have influenced B "in determining his play", it constituted advice and A is penalised two strokes. B is not penalised. Such a comment is advice because it could have influenced the player in deciding how to play the hole. During a round, a player must not give advice to anyone in the competition playing on the course (see Rule 10.2a).
