The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

After taking a year off last year due to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, legendary golfer Tiger Woods said he’s all excited about the return to the Hero World Challenge Golf Tournament at the Albany Golf Course this weekend.

“It’s been a long 22 months for all of us, not being able to play last year, we completely understand the reasons why with the pandemic, trying to keep everyone safe and it was the right call, but it’s exciting to have it this week,” said Woods in a pre-tournament interview yesterday.

“This is our sixth time here, seventh time with Hero MotoCorp, so we’re excited about that and our future with them. Look at the field this year, the strongest we’ve ever had. It’s been ‑‑it’s incredible.”

Looking at the field, which includes Matthew Fitzpatrick, Tyrrell Hatton, Scottie Scheffler, Sam Burns, Webb Simpson, Daniel Berger, Harris English, Tony Finch, Patrick Reed, Abraham Ancer, Henrik Stenson, Viktor Hovland, Justin Rose, Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau and Jordan Spieth, Woods said it’s a very strong one with eight new players being introduced to this format and this event.

The players will tee off 11:05am Thursday at the Albany Golf Club. They will resume play on Friday and Saturday and conclude on Sunday when the champion of the $3,500,000 purse will be crowned.

Stenson is the defending champion.

“A lot of the players who were first‑timers that have come from this event have started to know charities or new foundations from what they’ve learned here at this event, so we’re very proud of that,” Woods said.

“Some have expanded on that, on what they’ve been doing from their own charities and their own foundations from what they learned at this event, so hopefully that trend continues. We have a great week weather wise, the course is immaculate, so it’s a lot of fun this week.”

Dr Pawan Munjal, chairman and CEO, Hero MotoCorp, said it was a delight to be back in the Bahamas with Woods to put on what many consider to be one of the biggest tournaments in the world.

“It’s always ‑‑it’s always bliss for me and for all of us from Hero to come back here at Albany for the Hero World Challenge,” Munjal said.

“It’s always a treat to be amongst friends, with Tiger and the 20 other fortunate pros who get to play the Hero World Challenge, a very unique event, a very different golf event, a fun event, yet part of the PGA Tour.”

Trying not to concentrate on the effects of COVID- 19, Munjal said God has been kind to allow them to continue to play the game with all of the pros back on the courses.

“Now this week let’s all have fun, let’s have a treat here at Albany,” he said. “Let’s enjoy the Bahamas and let’s watch the best of golf on this beautiful golf course here.”