Tiger Woods is playing the Barclays tournament across the harbor from Wall Street this week because the world’s top golf tour needs his support in a rough economy more than he needs a shot at his 71st career victory.
Woods, No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking, entered the tournament, played this year at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, New jersey, for the first time since 2003.
With PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem asking players to give a little extra effort this year to show appreciation to sponsors and fans, Woods has obliged.
“I think we have to support the tour, there’s no doubt, especially in this economy right now,” Woods said in a press conference inside the clubhouse of the three-year-old course. “That’s what you have to do.”
When it became known that General Motors Co. wouldn’t continue its sponsorship of the Buick Open in Flint, Michigan, Woods added it to his schedule and won. He had skipped the tournament the previous two years. Woods, 33, also participated in some PGA Tour-sponsored corporate outings and wrote letters to sponsors who might be considering ending their relationships with the circuit.
“Some of the contracts are coming up and you want to support it,” Woods said.
Barclays PLC, which has sponsored this tournament since 2005, isn’t among those in danger of leaving. Its contract runs through 2012.
Five Victories
Woods, the winner of five tournaments this season, last played in this event when it was known as the Buick Classic and contested at Westchester Country Club in Rye, New York. In 2007, when it became the first of four tournaments that make up the FedEx Cup playoffs, Woods also sat it out. He was unable to play last year as he recovered from knee surgery.
Tomorrow will mark Woods’s first competitive round since finishing second to Y.E. Yang in the PGA Championship two weeks ago. Woods held a two-shot lead heading into the final round at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota, marking the first time he lost after holding a three-round lead in 15 major tournaments.
“That night was tough, no doubt,” Woods said. “It was disappointing that I didn’t win, especially since I was hitting it so well on Sunday.”
Woods took a few days off before starting his preparation for this week.
“I was a little tired of it,” he said.
‘Interesting’ Course
Woods arrived this morning at Liberty National to play a practice round. He described the $250 million course, built atop a former toxic-waste site and featuring severely undulating greens and narrow fairways, as “interesting.”
“If the wind blows, it’s going to be tough, tough to get the ball close,” he said. “It’s going to definitely test your ball-striking and if you miss the green, it’s very tight.”
Woods is the top-seeded player entering the tournament. After this week, the top 100 players will advance to the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston, then the top 70 to the BMW Championship in Chicago. The top 30 players will compete in the season-ending Tour Championship in Atlanta, with the overall winner earning $10 million.
(Source: Bloomberg)
