Newton Square, PA ….
A heat-exhausted Tiger Woods opted out of a first Pro-Am event this season while Japan No. 1 Hideki Maysuama withdrew after nine holes due to heat exhaustion in the near 100-degree Philadelphia heat.
Woods was perspiring profusely during a nine-hole practice round Tuesday alongside Rory McIlroy and had remarked after signing autographs:“This heat is brutal”.
The 14-time Major winner also declined a PGA Tour request to attend the Aronimink GC media centre ahead of this week’s $US 9m BMW Championship.
Also the heatwave conditions are set to continue into Thursday and with the NFL new season kick-starting with Superbowl champs, the Philadelphia Eagles tackling the Atlanta Falcons in downtown ‘Philly’.
Tiger Woods signing autographs after his nine-hole practice round Tuesday. (Photo @tourmiss)
Under Tour rules, players are allowed to miss two Pro-Am’s in a season, and if they do they must commit instead to a corporate request such as a Q & A session.
Aussie Marc Leishman, who had contested the opening two rounds alongside Woods in last week’s Dell Technologies Championship in Boston, said it was no surprise Woods did not contest the BMW Pro-Am.
“Last week was also pretty hot at the start of the week and it took a lot out of most of us competing up in Boston,” said Leishman.
“Having seen the forecast for today, Tiger’s probably just recharging the batteries after having run out of a bit of energy but in saying that I was impressed with his play as he’s still playing good.
“I know he was a little frustrated with his putter but he’ll be fine.
And Leishman raised the issue again of PGA Tour players being allowed to wear shorts during the practice rounds and Pro-Am as is the scenario on the European Tour, and as was the policy in the similiar heatwave conditions in St. Louis for the PGA Championship.
“It would be great if were allowed to wear shorts but that decision is not up to me,” he said,
Woods will find no respite from the heat on the first day of the event teeing-up alongside Ryder Cup colleagues, Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler at 11.30am local time.
