World Cup of Golf and Tiger's Resurgence

This past weekend, the Omega Mission Hills World Cup took place in Hainan, China. The event features two man teams from all over the world. Matt Kuchar and Gary Woodland represented the US, the eventual champions of the event. Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell fared well, finishing tied for fourth, despite being the favourites to win at the beginning of the final day. The event usually does not receive large amounts of press from the sporting world as it happens in late November, when the golfing season has long come to a close. However, I feel the event deserves some more recognition. Golf is, by nature, an individual sport. It presents a chance for a man to be on top of the world, and for no one to question his abilities. The World Cup allows the sport to be forged into a team sport, where teams must work together synergistically to achieve a common goal, much like the Ryder and President's Cups. As we have all witnessed for many years, America has taken top honours this year in the world of golf. First, in the FedEx Cup, when Bill Haas won. Then, the Americans defeated the international squad handily to claim the President's Cup for a fourth straight time. And now, the Americans have won the World Cup of golf. Thus ends a successful season for American golfers, this at a time when European, South African and Australian golfers were the talk of the town.

Another American had an autumn to remember, he being Tiger Woods. Everyone was so quick to count Tiger out after the knee surgeries and his infidelities and subsequent marital fallout. However, we saw a glimpse of old Tiger as he played his way to a fourth place finish at the Australian Open and followed it up with a stellar performance at the Ryder Cup. Although Tiger arguably had his shakiest year ever on tour, and was winless, there exists a glimmer of hope that he will regain his old form and win again on tour for years to come. I, for one, believe it will be good for the game to see Tiger dominate like he once did. Tiger's career will one day be over and another superstar will supplant him as the most dominant player in the world. But until that day, I'd like to see Tiger smash Jack's record of eighteen majors. You can choose to disagree, but it sure would make for some good TV.

Cheers,

Hendo