World No. 1 Tiger Woods will return to Turkey later this year to compete in the European Tour’s inaugural Turkish Airlines Open to be staged from November 7th to 10th at the Montgomerie Maxx Royal course in Balek.
Woods will join 77-players in the third event in a new four-tournament ‘Final Series’ conclusion to The Race to Dubai.
Tiger Woods during last year’s appearance in the Turkish Airlines World Golf Championship. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
Organisers had announced late last year when Woods competed in the Turkish Airlines World Golf Challenge that the 2013 Turkish Airlines Open would carry a $US7m prize purse.
It will be Woods’ only second appearance in a regular European Tour event this year after he competed earlier this season in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in Abu Dhabi.
Ahmet Ali Agoglu, President of the Turkish Golf Federation, said: “It makes us very happy that Tiger Woods is going to play in Turkey for two years in a row.”
Ahmet had played alongside Woods in a Pro-Am event following last year’s Turkish Airlines World Golf Challenge and a few days after he sensationally head-butted a journalist who refused to obey instructions from security officials to move when Woods was teeing off.
And Ahmet indicated that since Woods along with Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Lee Westwood and five other players competed last year bookings for tee-times in the Balek area has risen by some 12 to 15%.
“With Tiger Woods agreeing to again compete in Turkey it will also help boost Turkey’s goal of hosting the 2020 Olympic Games showing the world Turkey is capable of hosting world-class sporting occasions,” said Ahmet.
Organisers indicated they are also seeking to attract fellow American Steve Stricker.
And one lucky amateur, and winner of the 2013 Turkish Airlines World Cup Final, will get to play alongside Woods during the Pro-Am ahead of the Turkish Airlines Open.
