As if there weren’t enough topics to argue over in the golf world right now, Tiger Woods’ recent leap in the Official World Golf Ranking has sparked more online debate over the legitimacy of the OWGR itself.
Woods finished 18th in the 20-man event, but the key was that he completed 72 holes without incident or re-injury to his right leg, which has plagued him since he badly injured it in a single-car accident in 2021.
Showing considerable rust of both the physical and mental variety, Woods opened the Hero World Challenge with a three-over-par 75 on a windswept afternoon at Albany.
Woods hasn’t played competitively since withdrawing during the third round of the Masters in April. Days later, he underwent subtalar fusion surgery on his ankle.
Whether Woods plays or not, the Hero will again have a star-studded field of 20 players, including world No.1 Scottie Scheffler and No.4 Viktor Hovland, who is the event’s two-time defending champion.
There are so many great parts packed in that 55 seconds! Although, you’ve really got to hear Per Haugsrud and Henrik Bjornstad to do this clip justice.
This Viktor Hovland character, amiable and largely unflappable, seems well suited to the laid-back atmosphere that permeates the grounds of Albany Resort and the Hero World Challenge.