Tiger Woods facing another dilemma before the Chevron World Challenge
When Tiger Woods and organizers who run the Chevron World Challenge decided they wanted the event to distribute world ranking points to competitors prior to the 2009 event, they could not have imagined the sort of dilemma they see themselves in at the moment.
Who would have thought that the biggest draw of the tournament who is also the host of the event can fall outside of the Top 50 and would be ineligible to play in the event.
There is only less than a week to go before the start of the tournament, Woods is tantalisingly close to the Top 50 cut-off and thus in serious danger of leaving the tournament in a very precarious situation.
So far, The Director of the tournament Greg McLaughlin and Tiger Woods have remained optimistic and have not even talked about the scenario of Woods not appearing in the tournament. Even after all the commotion about his precarious position, Woods may as
well still be within the Top 50 when the rankings are released on Sunday night.
If Woods is unable to make the cut, will the tournament organizers rescind the world ranking criteria and open the choice of inviting any player they please, or in other words Woods? It is a question on everyone’s minds, but one that remains to be answered.
Title sponsor Chevron has only been able to field Woods just once in the three years of sponsorship. Three years ago, Woods had to sit out due to injury and two years ago he missed because of his extra marital fiasco.
A year earlier, McDowell surprisingly beat Tiger Woods and used the points earned in the tournament, McDowell had fallen out of the Top 50, but a second place finish moved him back into the Top 50 and the player secured a Masters invitation. He went on to
win the US Open in 2010.
But the world ranking points are not compelling enough for the fans to watch the tournament; Tiger Woods is the biggest draw of the tournament. There is no doubt that Chevron would be eager to have him play.
If it really comes down to changing eligibility criteria, it would have to go before the PGA Tour’s policy board. But it's unlikely that they would decide against the inclusion of Tiger Woods, considering how much he has done for the game and since he continues
to be an icon no matter how torrid the last two years have been for him.
Perhaps it would be best for the fans and the for those involved that Woods does not fall out of the Top 50, it would make their lives much more easier and the Tournament much more exciting.
Tags: