Nassau, Bahamas ….
Olympic Games gold medal winning Justin Rose handed Tiger Woods a huge confidence lift ahead of his return to competition at this week’s Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.
They duo were joined former New York Yankees baseball legend, Derek Jeter and fellow World Series winning Tino Martinez for a nine-hole practice round over the inward nine of the Ernie Els designed course.
Justin Rose taking a selfie with Tiger Woods.
Woods was clearly very relaxed in the company of the three and aside from an errant drive down the left side of the 13th the 14-time Major winner was in play for much of the nine holes in the sunny but windy conditions.
There were no official scores recorded but it’s understood Woods shot a comfortable one over par 37 for the nine holes that included two bogeys and a birdie.
Highlight of Woods nine holes was a 350-yard downwind drive at the par four 15th that was easily 40 yards further than Rose, and with Woods having parked his luxurious ocean-going cruisier close to Rose’s palatial abode.
Rose is returning after a seven-week injury absence and as such clearly looked a lot more ‘rusty’ than Woods who will tee-up on Thursday in the 18-man $US 3m event not have competed in 465 days since sharing 10th place in the 2015 Wyndham Championship.
“I was really pleased the way I was striping the ball as I hit it pretty well but then the wind today is expected to come from a different direction on Thursday,” said Woods.
“The greens, and how they’ve set them up at the moment, are a little too quick for this wind and with talk of a storm also coming in on Thursday, they should be perfect.”
Rose later complimented Woods on his game.
We’ve played today in a 20mph plus breeze and it’s quite an unforgiving wind but the quality of Tiger’s play has 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.!
