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Tag: Tiger Woods

  • Woods’ comeback great lesson, says No. 1 golfer

    Andrew Odoh, the number one Nigerian golfer, says Tiger Woods’s comeback teaches that the power to succeed lies within.

    Odoh made the assertion  in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday in reaction to Tiger Woods’ superlative comeback after 11 years of trophy drought.

    He said that Woods’s experience should be a remarkable lesson for the young and old.

    NAN reports  that Woods, one of the greatest golfers, went down following failed marriage and  nosedived career.

    However, he just won his fifth masters in his career, and the first time in 14 years.  Tiger won the major championship – the 15th of his stellar.

    Odoh said: “Tiger’s victory in the just-concluded masters is a remarkable achievement.

    “If not for anything, for a guy, who hasn’t won a major tournament over 11 years to come back after going through such a rough path in life, it is great.

    “He went through a family breakup. A lot sponsors shunned him because of the scandals, his injuries; his victory will continue to teach everyone around the world something valuable – not just those in the golfing world.

    “It tells one thing – if you focus and stay dedicated to what you do, you can always achieve greater things. That is what Tiger has done, and that is what people must pick out of this win.

    “ I personally think the victory for him will not end here from the way I see him swing, and  I believe we are on the way to see him break Jack Nicklaus 18 title records. Tiger is back,’’ he said.

    NAN reports that the U.S. PGA Championship will tee-off from May 16 to May 19.

  • Golf: Woods jumps to 6th in rankings

    Tiger Woods’ final-round rally to win the Masters on Sunday in Augusta, Ga., boosted him to No. 6 in the Official World Golf Rankings, which were updated Sunday evening.

    Woods, 43, entered the tournament at No. 12 in the world, equaling his highest ranking since late in the 2014 season.

    In the time in between, he dipped as low as 1,199th in the rankings, while undergoing four back surgeries and believing he might never play again.

    He climbed all the way to 26th within eight months of his lowest point before reaching 13th by the end of the 2018 season, following a victory at the Tour Championship.

    Woods started Sunday two strokes back of Italy’s Francesco Molinari, a margin that remained through 11 holes, before overcoming the gap in the closing stretch to claim his fifth green jacket.

    The last time Woods held the world’s top ranking was 10 weeks into the 2014 season. He holds the all-time records for most consecutive weeks (281) and most career weeks (683) atop the rankings.

    READ ALSO: Tiger Woods’s ex-wife Elin puts mansion on sale

    Meanwhile, Dustin Johnson reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the world after tying for second place, one stroke back of Woods. Johnson birdied four times in a five-hole span on the back nine to shoot 68.

    England’s Justin Rose, who missed the cut by one stroke at 4 over through two rounds, had taken the title from Johnson last week, after Johnson took it from Rose in early March.

    Rose dropped to No. 2, with Brooks Koepka, who also tied for second on Sunday, moving from fourth to third.

  • Epic Masters victory: Tiger Woods completes miracle comeback

    After all the scandals, injuries,  surgeries and drama, Tiger Woods has won the Masters in 2019.

    Nearly 11 years after his last major victory — the longest drought in golf history — Woods won the Masters by one stroke with a bravura 70 final round, keeping his head while the best of the next generation of golfers lost theirs.

    Six golfers held at least a share of the lead over the day, five tied with only a handful of holes left. But as it was in 1997, so it was 22 years later: Woods walking off the 18th green to delirious cheers, another green jacket awaiting him — his 15 major win in total.

    “Tiger! Tiger! Tiger!” the crowd around 18 yelled, a comeback complete.

    The win brought an emotion rarely seen from Woods, who threw up his arms in triumph, unable to wipe the smile off his face. A fist pump. A scream. A massive hug from his son Charlie, who wasn’t born the last time Tiger won one of these.

    It was total euphoria at Augusta National.

    With all due respect to the vast talents of Brooks Koepka, Francesco Molinari and others, there are two storylines at every Masters: Tiger Woods, and everyone else. That’s not media bias or wishful thinking, that’s objective reality.

    Tiger draws the largest and loudest galleries, Tiger pulls in the biggest ratings, Tiger summons cheers at Augusta that don’t sound like anywhere else on earth.

    The difference in 2019 as opposed to recent history is this: Woods arrived in Augusta with his first legitimate chance to win in more than half a decade. He’d missed three of the last five due to health reasons, and he’d been irrelevant in the other two. Now, though, he’s as golf-ready as a 43-year-old can be, with another PGA Tour win in his pocket since last year.

    Woods remains the biggest story in golf, but not the only story. Koepka is riding a Tiger-esque majors hot streak — two of the last three, three of the last seven — and Molinari has punched Tiger in the face while winning both the British Open and the Ryder Cup over the last nine months.

    Thursday began under one of those classic Augusta skies, blue and deep and breezy, with the gallery buzzing and the birdies flying. This was one of those “future of golf days”, where Koepka and mad scientist Bryson DeChambeau took the early lead at -6. Right behind them: Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, and the usual collection of leaderboard cameos. Molinari and Woods lurked further down the leaderboard at -2.

    Then came Friday, which was without question one of the strangest days in recent Masters history. Big names came out firing, and by the day’s end an unprecedented five major winners — Molinari, Koepka, Louis Oosthuizen, Adam Scott and Jason Day — shared the lead at -7.

    But we expected all that. What we didn’t expect was an enthusiastic security guard becoming part of Masters lore by slipping and sliding right into Woods’ ankle while trying to hold back a vicious Augusta gallery. Woods hobbled for a moment but ended up birdieing the hole, and CBS promptly memory-holed the footage.

    Saturday was King Kong, Godzilla and Mothra all elbowing for space, with Tony Finau sneaking in there among them. Molinari, who once caddied next to Woods at a Masters, put distance between himself and the field with the relentless, mechanical precision of an avalanche. Woods and Koepka kept pace, and Finau snuck in with one of the three 64s on the day.

    With ugly weather on the way, Augusta National moved tee times up — way, way up — almost six hours earlier than normal, splitting the field into two and tripling up the pairings. So, there wasn’t much time to meditate on what a Masters Sunday with Tiger Woods in sight of the lead might mean to history before the leaders teed off.

    Early on, Molinari seemed invincible, running his par streak to 49 holes and, as of the sixth hole, posting a three-stroke lead on the field. Molinari’s dead-eyed stare and clinical perfection — plus the fact that he had history against Woods — seemed to bode well for his chances, and ill for everyone who wanted to see Woods win his first major since 2008.

  • Tiger Woods’ net worth rises to $800m

    Niger Woods features in Forbes Magazine’s ‘America’s Wealthiest Celebrities 2018’ list with his current net worth at $800m.

    Star Wars creator George Lucas tops the list with $5.4bn, with Woods in 9thplace alongside author James Patterson.

    Woods returned to the PGA Tour in 2018 after fourth back surgery last April and was arguably the story of the golfing year.

    The 14-time major won again and had strong showings in the year’s final two majors, with a T6 at The Open, where he had the lead at the halfway stage, and a runner-up finishes at the USPGA. His 2018 season was lucrative on the course, with winnings of just under $5.5m, whilst his net worth rose by $50m for the year.

    It now stands at $800m and he is by far the richest professional golfer on the planet, with Phil Mickelson in second with an estimated current net worth of $375m.

    Woods was one of just two athletes in Forbes’ America’s Wealthiest Celebrities 2018 list, with basketball star Michael Jordan up in 4th with a net worth of $1.7bn.

    The 80-time PGA Tour winner’s company TGR – Tiger Woods Ventures appears to be going well and he has plenty of revenue streams including sponsorships with Nike, TaylorMade, Bridgestone, Hero, the PGA Tour, Kowa, Full Swing and Upper Deck.

    He has also recently signed a deal with new streaming platform GOLF TV to produce content and was involved in ‘The Match’ with Phil Mickelson which was on Pay-Per-View.

  • Tiger Woods to play with rival Mickelson

    Niger Woods and Phil Mickelson will be playing partners at the Players Championship for the first time in 17 years when the pair go head to head during the first two rounds of this year’s contest.

    The long-time rivals haven’t been part of the same pairing at golf’s unofficial fifth major since the third round in 2001, where Woods holed his iconic ‘better than most’ putt on the 17th green on his way to a one-shot victory.

    The 14-time major champion has played at least one round with Mickelson in 22 different stroke play events during their lengthy careers, most recently during the first two days of the 2014 PGA Championship, although featured in a practice round together ahead of the Masters.

    Woods is a two-time winner of the event but makes his first start here since 2015, while Mickelson – who claimed a two-stroke victory in 2007, makes his 25th Players Championship appearance.

    The PGA Tour announced that the duo would be part of the Featured Group coverage during the opening two days in Florida, with 2015 champion Rickie Fowler completing that three-ball.

  • Tiger Woods’s ex-wife Elin puts mansion on sale

     

    She walked away from her marriage with golfing legend Tiger Woods with a whopping $100m settlement.

    And Elin Nordegren has put her custom-built Florida mansion which she bought with the settlement on the market for a whopping $49.5m.

    The Swedish former model, 38, who divorced the adulterous golfer in 2010, following a six year marriage, purchased the sprawling 25,878-square foot oceanfront home in Seminole Landing, North Palm Beach in 2014.

    The palatial home comes complete with 11 bedrooms, 15 bathrooms, three half bathrooms, and spectacular ocean views.

    Inside the master bedroom, there are his and hers bathrooms, a walk-in closet, three fireplaces and a balcony perfect for watching the sunset over the Atlantic ocean.

    Each of the four uniquely decorated guest bedrooms includes an en-suite bathroom and walk-in closet

    The luxury living quarters also include a formal living and dining room with envy-inducing sea views, along with a walk-in pantry.

    A further striking feature of the property is a statement soaring staircase illuminated by a three-storey Swarovski crystal chandelier.

    A mammoth outdoor swimming pool with waterslide and spa, lounge areas with fire pits, a putting green and a half basketball court are set in the estate’s 1.4 acres of land.

    The property has a rooftop terrace which offers breath-taking views of the ocean, along with a temperature controlled wine cellar, home cinema, fitness centre, catering kitchen and a four-car garage.

    Making the property perfect for entertaining, it also encompasses a Cabana house and guesthouse with two, two-bedroom apartments.

    The estate replaced a 17,000 square foot home built in 1932 that Elin bought for $12.2 million but had to tear down because it was riddled with rot.

    Before demolition began in 2011, she gave Habitat for Humanity a month to salvage anything they wanted from the property.

    Woods and Nordegren were just shy of their sixth wedding anniversary at Thanksgiving 2009 when police were called to their Orlando home. Woods had smashed his car into a tree during what appeared to be a lover’s spat.

    Within days, stories about Woods cheating on Nordegren with dozens of strippers, waitresses, porn stars, lounge hostesses and groupies led to their divorce in mid-2010.

  • Tiger named USA vice captain for Ryder Cup

    Tiger named USA vice captain for Ryder Cup

     

    United States Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk believes a ‘humble’ Tiger Woods will again prove his worth off the course after naming the 14-time major winner and Steve Stricker as vice-captains for this year’s contest in Paris.

    Woods has not featured as a player since collecting just half a point from four matches in 2012, when Europe came back from 10-6 down on the final day in the ‘Miracle at Medinah’.

    However, the former world no 1 enjoyed a successful debut as an assistant at Hazeltine in 2016 and will fill the same role at Le Golf National from September 28-30.

    Woods also said last week he would relish a dual role as player and vice-captain and, speaking via a video message on Tuesday, the 42-year-old added: ‘The Ryder Cup is incredibly special to me. I am thankful to once again serve as a Ryder

    Cup vice-captain and I thank Jim for his confidence, friendship and support.

    ‘My goal is to make the team but whatever happens over the course of this season I will continue to do whatever I can to

    help us keep the cup. I’m excited about the challenge ahead.’

    Furyk believes Woods will be a valuable asset in Paris, particularly if a number of younger players who grew up idolising the 14-time major winner again make the team.

    He said: ‘When you look at that team room (at Hazeltine), a lot of them became professional golfers because they wanted to emulate Tiger Woods, so to have him in that team room, being that humble guy who is ready to serve means a lot.’

    Asked if Woods would be better as a player or vice-captain – if he failed to qualify but had played well during his latest comeback from injury – Furyk added: ‘I’d like to do what’s best for Tiger.

    ‘I want to do what’s best for the team and that would be a bridge that we would cross when we got there. If he can be valuable as a player I’m sure we’d want him playing on this team, but there’s so much time to go. I’m anxious to see how he plays and we’ll do what’s best for him and the team.’

    Woods has only featured in one winning Ryder Cup side as a player and was often accused of not caring enough about a team competition compared to his individual achievements.

  • ‘Tiger Woods could stun the world again’

    ‘Tiger Woods could stun the world again’

    Rory McIlroy hardly needed reminding that Tiger Woods creates a din wherever he goes. But after watching the 14-time major winner turn mediocrity into a satisfactory 72 in the first round of the Genesis Open, McIlroy remained convinced his friend “will make some noise this year”.

    McIlroy told Telegraph Sport that following the evidence of his November knockabout with Woods, he felt the 42-year-old could “stun the world again” when he returned from his spinal fusion operation. And although Woods’ one-over beginning here at Riviera was error-strewn off the tee, McIlroy has not altered his view.

    It was their first competitive outing in three years and McIlroy’s mind inevitably drafted back. “It doesn’t feel like five years ago that Tiger won five tournaments and was the voted player of the year, so it’s not been that long,” McIlroy said after his own 71.

    “He remembers how to do this and his body’s allowing him to do this once more, and there’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll make some noise this year.”

    Certainly there was a clatter on the par-four 11th (Woods’ second hole having started on the 10th) when he sent his drive hurtling into the trees. Indeed, it unluckily stayed up in the eucalyptus, and as Woods could not identify it among the branches, he was forced to go back to the tee-box.

    Again it went askew but this time it located terra firma. From the rough, Woods proceeded to swing so aggressively and with such a manic twist of his torso to gain the required action on the ball that if his surgeon was watching he would surely have choked on his grits.

    He ended up taking a double bogey, but if nothing else, Woods proved that there is no issue with his mended back’s capability of coping with the rigours of the sport.

    However, he plainly has an issue with the big club. His driving marred his commendable showing at Torrey Pines three weeks ago – where he made the cut in his first full-field event in more than a year – and, although he straightened up considerably, it was again the main culprit.

    His final hole (the ninth) summed it up when he wildly struck into the bunker on the adjacent 10th, before a brilliant recovery approach to the fringe of a green and a fine up-and-down. The damning stats chart showed he hit only seven greens in regulation.

    “It was all right. I made really silly bogeys out there,” Woods said. “But overall I thought I hung in there well and grinded.”

    The other member of the Hollywood threeball, which attracted impressive crowds for a Thursday morning, lent some realism to the Woods scenario. “He’s a pretty good ways away,” Justin Thomas said after his 69. “I mean Tiger’s right now doing what he’s always done in terms of getting it around. But he’s obviously not driving it well and not hitting the shots he wants.”

    For his part, McIlroy’s putting looked almost as lousy as Woods’s driving early on. But then came the 30-footer for eagle on the first (his 10th) and he was rightly content with coming home in two-under.

    Yet still, following his missed cut at Pebble Beach last week, where he took 38 putts his second round, this was largely another humbling day on the greens. But McIlroy refused to be despondent.

    “I’ve hit good putts out there,’ McIlroy said. “It’s not as if I’m hitting wide and missing by a few inches – it’s only just sliding by the edges. So it’s not too far off.”

    And McIlroy is not too far off the lead held by Americans Tony Finau and Patrick Cantlay. Scotland’s Martin Laird is two behind after a 68, while England’s Tommy Fleetwood shot a 70. World No 1 Dustin Johnson, who is the defending champion here, fired a disappointing 74.

  • Woods marks return with a level-par 72 in F-I Open

    Woods marks return with a level-par 72 in F-I Open

     

    Tiger Woods marked his return to PGA Tour action after a 12-month absence with a level-par 72 at the Farmers Insurance Open.

    The 14-time major winner hit the opening round’s halfway point one over par but recovered that shot on the back nine in a steady comeback.

    Woods endured a frustrating start, suffering a bogey on the opening hole at Torrey Pines after missing a tricky putt to save par.

    He dropped another shot at the par-four fifth but birdied the next hole and picked up another two gains either side of a bogey after the turn.

    The 42-year-old closed his round holding a share of 83rd place, seven shots adrift of clubhouse leader Tony Finau.

    ‘It was fun to compete again. It was fun to be out there,’ Woods said. ‘It’s hard to make a lot of birdies when you’re not giving yourself any looks, and I didn’t do that today.

    ‘Tomorrow, hopefully, I’ll drive a little better, get my irons obviously a lot closer and we get the better of the two greens tomorrow. So we’ll see what happens.’

    Woods has won eight times at Torrey Pines, including his last major in the 2008 US Open, but missed the cut in the Farmers Insurance Open this time last year.

    He withdrew from the Dubai Desert Classic the following week and remained sidelined for the rest of 2017 as he recovered from spinal fusion surgery.

    Woods secured a tie for ninth place in December’s 18-man Hero World Challenge, and has been rated 22/1 to land his first tour victory since 2013.

     

     

  • Tina Ogundoyin adapts

    Even the very best in any age is at the mercy of time. After breaking numerous records and entertaining fans for a decade or more, the most talented athlete loses hold of his soul and limb, leaving the terrain for up and coming ones. It was the fate that befell Michael Phelps, Tiger Woods and Usain Bolt and has also befallen Tina Ogundoyin.

    If the celebrity scene was an athletics competition, Tina was the world record holder who left her challengers biting the dust. She bestrode the Ibadan social scene like a perennial Olympic gold medallist as she waltzed from one high octane shindig in the ancient city to another, trailed by her coterie of equally flamboyant friends. Always colourfully and expensively dressed, she was the envy of many who could only dream of her vaunted status as the Queen of Sheba.

    But as the historical queen lost her lustre, so did Tina. Following a series of emotional issues with one-time beau Sogo Agboola, Tina’s sparkle began to wane, leading to her laying down her crown for new contenders on the scene to squabble over.

    These days, she is a picture of indifference to the goings-on on the social scene. She meticulously chooses the few occasions she now graces with her presence.