Speculation about Woods' return fuels interest in Hero World Challenge

Tiger Woods at the 2020 Masters

Forget about Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka. Tiger Woods won’t be teeing it up in this week’s Hero World Challenge, but should he make the trip, the mere presence of the 15-time Major winner in the Bahamas this week will be worth its weight in gold.

On Friday, Koepka hammered DeChambeau 5&3 in The Match in Las Vegas, but even if they start swinging punches at Albany, they are unlikely to match the hype surrounds 15-time Major winner Woods, who got 7.5 million views of a three-second video he posted of himself hitting an iron shot just over a week ago.

Las Vegas bookies have taken bets on Woods returning from devastating leg injuries he sustained in February’s car crash in California to win the Masters for a sixth time even though he had a metal rod inserted in his right tibia and femur, and screws and pins were used to repair damage to his foot and ankle.

Despite scant evidence that he’s even close to coming back, there are reports that organisers of the Champions Tour’s PNC Championship have reserved a place for Woods and his son Charlie to appear in their event in Florida later this month, just in case.

Meanwhile, the winner of the $3.5 m Hero World Challenge will take home $1 m, and while there is enormous interest in Woods’ health, Rory McIlroy’s explanation for his Incredible Hulk-style shirt ripping at the DP World Tour Championship is likely to feature near the top of the agenda in pre-tournament press conference questioning.

Defending champion Henrik Stenson’s thoughts on the 2023 Ryder Cup captaincy in Rome following Lee Westwood’s decision not to go for it will also brighten up a no-cut event featuring FedExCup champion Patrick Cantlay, Olympic champion Xander Schauffele.

All the above have access to private jets, but following the discovery of the Omicron Covid variant in South Africa last week, players who decided to abandon the Joburg Open on Friday were still making their way home last night.

Niall Kearney got back to Dublin via Addis Ababa in Ethiopia and Amsterdam, while Paul Dunne got into Dubai just after midnight local time on Saturday morning.

All on the flight were Covid tested, and his result was negative, so he was not required to quarantine.

“I was blessed and got to Dubai on Friday,” Dunne said. “I was so lucky to get a flight and I owe my manager a big case of wine this Christmas!”

Meanwhile, Spain’s Carlota Ciganda closed with a five-under 67 to clinch a four-shot victory in Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España.

Leading by three shots heading into the final day, the Solheim Cup star (31) followed in the footsteps of Azahara Muñoz in winning her national championship at Los Naranjos Golf Club in Malaga.

The 31-year-old turned in four-under 32 before following eight pars with a birdie at the 18th to win her fifth LET title and first since the 2019 Estrella Damm Mediterranean Ladies Open by four shots from Sweden’s Maja Stark on 15-under par.

“I’m very happy; it’s a tournament that I really wanted to win,” she said. “I love Spain and to win your country’s tournament is something very special, so I’m happy with the way I played.”