By Rahul Banerji
Tournament host Tiger Woods set himself up well for the $3.5 million Hero World Challenge starting Wednesday by winning a knock-about knock-out in New Providence, the Bahamas, on Monday.
With a top-heavy 18-strong field in the fray at the Albany Golf Club, the World Challenge will also be a warm-up of sorts for the Presidents Cup in Australia next week.
Ten of those assembled in New Providence will travel to Melbourne along with Tiger Woods as part of Team USA against the Internationals led by South Africa’s Ernie Els.
They include 2017 winner Rickie Fowler, Justin Thomas, Matt Kuchar, Xander Schauffele, Webb Simpson, Tony Finau, Bryson DeChambeau, Gary Woodland, Patrick Reed and Patrick Cantlay.
Dustin Johnson, also in the Melbourne-bound squad, was a late withdrawal from the Bahamas event.
Back in action
Tiger returns to tournament action for the first time since winning his record-tying 82nd PGA Tour title at the Zozo Championship in Japan this October.
On Monday though, it was all fun and games as Woods nailed his final shot in the Hero Shot at Baha Mar championship to see off 2014 World Challenge winner Jordan Spieth by 1,800 to 900 points.
The field also included DeChambeau, defending champion Jon Rahm, Henrik Stenson and Woodland. The players were given six shots at a target 130 yards away across a pool at the hotel.
In the first round, Stenson beat Rahm 1200-1100, Speith got past Woodland 200-100 (playoff) and Woods ousted DeChambeau 900-700. The last punt in each set of six was worth 500 points.
In round two, Stenson fell with an 8oo score as Speith and Woods both tallied 900. In the title round, Woods sealed the deal in style with a dead centre try with the sixth ball after the two were tied on 800 points each.
The final score, 1,800-900 to the event host.
Charity boost
According to the tournament website meanwhile, additional donations will be made to the ONE Bahamas Fund through a charity challenge to the players.
During the event, the tournament will make a donation of $500 for each birdie, $1,000 for each eagle and $2,500 for each hole in one made by the professionals in competition rounds at Albany between Wednesday and Saturday.
In October, the tournament had announced that proceeds from the 2019 Hero World Challenge would benefit the TGR Foundation and ONE Bahamas Fund, established to help rebuilding efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, that left large parts of the multi-island nation devastated.
The focus of the funds will be on education, housing and business restarts.
Founded by Tiger Woods, actor and musician Justin Timberlake, Nexus Luxury Collection, members of the Albany community and Royal Bank of Canada following the hurricane, the fund has pledged $6 million toward the efforts with a dollar for dollar match in hopes of raising $12 million.
Also read: Tiger’s roar echoes around the world as he equals PGA Tour all-time record
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