Golf Asia - February 2018

GOLFING

like it or not,

golf needs Tiger

At the time of writing, it has just been confirmed that

the Farmers Insurance Open will be heading for a

Monday finish between Alex Noren and Jason Day

as both were locked in a playoff duel as darkness fell.

But due to operational as well as security realities,

the competition will be closed to the general public

for their safety as well as the players alike.

But what is interesting was the spotlight on Tiger Woods

throughout the tournament, be it on social media, the

papers or forums. The golfing world was abuzz with

how he made the cut, how lop-sided the coverage of

the tournament was, how his post-spinal fusion surgery

back was holding up, how his swing looked, how his tee

shots needed work after hitting just 17 fairways out of

56 all week, or how he still had the magic around the

greens to not only survive the cut but manage a sub-

par score from the unforgiving Torrey Pines as well.

Judging by the crowds that numbered in the thousands who

followed him around the course, one could be forgiven for

thinking he was in the leading group but no, he was not.

Tiger was never in contention, he finished tied for 23rd

place yet his aura or attraction was still there. Perhaps it is

true that golf needs Tiger Woods as much as he needs golf.

Charley Hoffman who played with Tiger over the first two

rounds puts it so succinctly, "It's fun to see the energy out

here again, when he's out here it's something special."

BEN POON

[email protected]

FOREWORD