Nassau, Bahamas
Local resident Justin Rose reckons Tiger Woods could not have picked a better location and venue to end a 465-day competition absence at this week’s Hero Challenge in the Bahamas.
Woods, as host of the event, managed to twist the arm of organisers of the £STG 2.8m event and tee-up in the elite 18-player field and in what will be his first event since sharing 10th place at the 2015 Wyndham Championship.
And given the way Woods has hit the ball in practice and also during yesterday’s (WED) Pro-Am he could find his way into contention later this week.
Rose played a nine-hole practice round on Monday with the 14-time Major winner, and while the Rio Games Olympic Gold medal winner is coming off a seven-week break, he found himself being out-driven by Woods on a number of holes on the Ernie Els course.
Justin Rose snaps a selfie of Tiger Woods.
“We’ve played Monday in a 20mph plus breeze and it was quite an unforgiving wind but the quality of Tiger’s play was been pretty good,” said Rose.
“If he wanted to test his game then these conditions, given as tough as they are, is a good test and he’s clearly driven the ball very, very well.
“He drove it well and apart from just one hole, he didn’t miss a tee shot and what impressed me was how relaxed he looks while he’s moving well and looking healthy.
“So, it’s nice to see him back playing good golf.”
Woods has his ultra-luxury ocean cruiser ‘Privacy’ berthed just a 9-iron from Rose’s palatial abode and with the Rose’s hosting all competitors on Tuesday night to a bar-b-que.
The course itself has been closed to the public for three days leading up to the event while it’s not expected that many will flock to the event and this Rose says will help Woods.
“We all miss that buzz Tiger generates as he adds a different dimension to any tournament and everyone is keen to see him play well this week,” said Rose.
“I understand Tiger when he says he’s going to be nervous and I’m going to also be nervous not having played for a few months off myself.
“But then this is like a second home for Tiger and knowing so many people here as Tiger knows there is going to be challenges for him this week.
“Though it saying that it is also a comfortable place to start as it’s a limited field, a course he knows well so it’s a perfect venue for him to come back to competition.”!
Rose had spent Tuesday morning hosting his caddy Mark Fulchur and also Matt Kuchar in an off-shore fishing trip and with Fulchur landing a barracuda but the Ryder Cup winning Kuchar getting horribly sea-sick in the choppy seas.
