Former long-time World No. 1 Tiger Woods has defended current World No. 1 Luke Donald’s stature in the game ahead of the pair competing alongside each other for the opening two rounds of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
Joining Woods and Donald for the first two days on the National Club course is current World No. 3 and reigning U.S. Open champion, Rory McIlroy.
Woods is making his first appearance in the UAE capital after previously contesting the Dubai Desert Classic on six occasions including winning in 2006 and 2008.
Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood in promo shot ahead of 2012 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. (Photo - Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
It will be the first time Woods and Donald have competed alongside each other since Donald became World No. 1 last May in capturing the European Tour’s flagship BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in England.
And Woods has defended Donald’s achievement in reaching World No. 1 given the Englishman is yet to capture a Major Championship.
“Well, you don’t have to win a major to become the No. 1 player in the world,” said Woods.
“You have to be consistent. You have to play well in the big events, and it’s about accumulating points.
“That’s how the system has developed.“
And Woods was full of praise for Donald in becoming the first player last year to finish atop of the money list on both the PGA and European Tour’s.
“What Luke achieved was a heck of an achievement to have to play both tours full-time and the travel that that takes, and the consistency that you must have to do that,” said Woods.
“Luke played, seemed like he was in the top-10 in just about every tournament he played in, and that’s the only way you’re going to do it.;
“You’ve got to get wins and you’ve got to finish top-10s every time you tee up in order to pull something like that off; especially in the bigger events.
“Luke was very consistent throughout the year. He’s go W’s along the way. He deserved to get it.”
However when Woods was asked a reaction to Donald’s comments of early last month when he cited McIlroy as the most talented player he’d ever seen, Woods in contrast singled out the late Seve Ballesteros.
“As far as the most talented player that I’ve ever seen in person was Seve,” said Woods.
“Never seen a person do things with the golf ball that he was able to do and the creativeness that he was able to do.
“To me, he certainly had the most talent that I have ever seen in person.
“I never saw Mr. Nelson hit a golf ball. I never saw Jack (Nicklaus) in his prime. But I did see Seve when I first came out here, and I was able to play with him a few times; it was very impressive.”
