HOVLAND HEROIC AT HERO WORLD CHALLENGE
A wild Sunday at Albany saw just about everything. Collin Morikawa’s five-shot lead was gone by the turn, triple bogeys became the norm, players were hitting left-handed shots to get out of trouble, and the leaderboard could barely keep up. In the end, Viktor Hovland closed with an incredible back-nine 3-under 33 which included back-to-back eagles to win the Hero World Challenge by one shot over Scottie Scheffler.
“I didn’t think a win was going to be very possible, but I know this course is tricky and you can make up a lot of ground,” said Hovland, 24, who entered the final round six shots off the lead.
The victory had some extra special significance considering Tiger Woods was on-site serving as host, making the trophy presentation more than memorable. “It’s really cool to be in Tiger’s event and to win it,” Hovland said.
WOODS TALKS HEALTH, FAMILY AND GOLF FUTURE
Tiger Woods met with the media on Tuesday at the Hero World Challenge for the first time since he was involved in a serious single-car accident nine months ago. Woods, who serves as tournament host, was onsite and detailed the physical therapy he has gone through and that there was initial concern that his right leg might have to be amputated.
“I’m lucky to be alive but also to still have the limb,” Woods said. As for returning to golf, the 82-time PGA TOUR winner has been practicing and playing some but is far from being competition ready and said he has no timeline to return.
One thing Woods can schedule is his induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame as part of the 2022 class which also includes former PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem; three-time U.S. Women’s Open champion Susie Maxwell Berning and former U.S. Women’s Amateur champion Marion Hollins.
Their Hall of Fame inductions will take place March 9 at the PGA TOUR’s headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Memorabilia from the incredible careers of each inductee is now being displayed at the World Golf Hall of Fame.
TRAILBLAZER ELDER PASSES AWAY AT AGE 87
Lee Elder, a multiple winner on the PGA TOUR who became the first African American player to compete in the Masters, passed away on Nov. 28 at age 87. Elder endured a long, hard road to the TOUR, overcoming a difficult childhood and racial discrimination to forge a successful career in a sport historically unkind to African American players.
“I think a lot of guys would have given up,” Elder said during his rookie season of 1968, when he turned 34. “I don’t think they would have stuck it out this long.” Elder would go on to a successful golf career, playing in 448 events and winning four TOUR events.
He would also win eight times on PGA TOUR Champions.
