Rivals welcome an in-form Tiger
Source: Agencies |
December 7, 2011, Wednesday
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TIGER Woods is back to his winning ways, and some of the best golfers in the world are relishing the chance to face him again.
Woods won the Chevron World Challenge on Sunday, ending a two-year title drought that began shortly after his personal life imploded.
"It's something I look forward to," said Rory McIlroy, the US Open champion who has moved up to No. 2 in the world and is playing at this week's Dubai Championship. "(Playing against Tiger) would be a huge experience and a huge learning curve for me just to see how I would handle it. But it's not something I have experienced and it's not something that a lot of players in my sort of generation have experienced yet and it would just be great to have the opportunity to do it at some point next year."
Before Sunday's victory, Woods had last won on November 15, 2009, at the Australian Masters - a 26-tournament drought. But that win moved Woods from No. 52 to No. 21 in the world ranking.
"With Tiger, obviously it's nice for him, I think, that he could win again," fourth-ranked Martin Kaymer said. "It's good for us. He did a lot for the sport and the status that golf has in the world. It would be nice to play against the best player whoever played the game in their top form and see if you can beat them."
Biggest name
Third-ranked Lee Westwood also welcomed Woods back, calling him "the biggest name in golf and probably one of the biggest names in world sports."
Westwood said it can only help when Woods is playing at his best and on the top of the leaderboard in any tournament.
"You know, obviously Tiger getting back into the winner's enclosure is great for golf," Westwood said. "I think everybody likes to see the best players in the world playing well. Tiger has been one of those, that kind of player, and might well get back there. Starting to play well is the first start of that process."
The No. 2-ranked McIlroy meanwhile knows it won't be easy snatching the Race to Dubai title from current leader Donald. The 22-year-old Northern Irishman trails Donald by just under 790,000 euros (US$1 million) and must win in Dubai, and hope that Donald finishes outside the top nine - something the Englishman has done only three times on the European Tour this year.
"Still got a slim chance of trying to win the Race To Dubai and so it's nice to just have that coming to the quick," said McIlroy, whose Hong Kong win ensured the Race would come down to the final tournament. "It's going to be a tough task but I'll give my best and it would be great to finish the year on a high."
Woods won the Chevron World Challenge on Sunday, ending a two-year title drought that began shortly after his personal life imploded.
"It's something I look forward to," said Rory McIlroy, the US Open champion who has moved up to No. 2 in the world and is playing at this week's Dubai Championship. "(Playing against Tiger) would be a huge experience and a huge learning curve for me just to see how I would handle it. But it's not something I have experienced and it's not something that a lot of players in my sort of generation have experienced yet and it would just be great to have the opportunity to do it at some point next year."
Before Sunday's victory, Woods had last won on November 15, 2009, at the Australian Masters - a 26-tournament drought. But that win moved Woods from No. 52 to No. 21 in the world ranking.
"With Tiger, obviously it's nice for him, I think, that he could win again," fourth-ranked Martin Kaymer said. "It's good for us. He did a lot for the sport and the status that golf has in the world. It would be nice to play against the best player whoever played the game in their top form and see if you can beat them."
Biggest name
Third-ranked Lee Westwood also welcomed Woods back, calling him "the biggest name in golf and probably one of the biggest names in world sports."
Westwood said it can only help when Woods is playing at his best and on the top of the leaderboard in any tournament.
"You know, obviously Tiger getting back into the winner's enclosure is great for golf," Westwood said. "I think everybody likes to see the best players in the world playing well. Tiger has been one of those, that kind of player, and might well get back there. Starting to play well is the first start of that process."
The No. 2-ranked McIlroy meanwhile knows it won't be easy snatching the Race to Dubai title from current leader Donald. The 22-year-old Northern Irishman trails Donald by just under 790,000 euros (US$1 million) and must win in Dubai, and hope that Donald finishes outside the top nine - something the Englishman has done only three times on the European Tour this year.
"Still got a slim chance of trying to win the Race To Dubai and so it's nice to just have that coming to the quick," said McIlroy, whose Hong Kong win ensured the Race would come down to the final tournament. "It's going to be a tough task but I'll give my best and it would be great to finish the year on a high."
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