Tiger Woods is no longer the most expensive player – Golf News
Former world’s number one, Tiger Woods, who once used to demand high price to appear in any of the events around the world, is now getting ready to play the European Tour’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship without a big price.
He will now play as an ordinary participant in the event slated to be held from January 26–29.
He will compete against some of the big names, such as the current world's No. 1 Luke Donald, US Open champ Rory McIlroy and Martin Kaymer from Germany.
Woods once used to earn £60 million a year and was among the most expensive sportsmen in the world.
However, he suffered an injury in an accident in 2009, followed by a controversy that led his marriage life to an end. The suspicious news floated in the media and he went out of the golfing scene for months.
As a result, he also lost many of his sponsorship deals, with some of the largest companies in the world.
Now, he is not regarded as a player who can be used to gain attention for the tournament he is participating in. Therefore, Woods is not in a position to demand high prices for his participation in events.
He has been out of form for the last two years and won only one event, Chevron World Challenge, at the end of December, 2011.
“Tiger is going to add allure to Abu Dhabi,” Colin Montgomerie said who is also making his appearance in Abu Dhabi.
“Everyone is going to be asking what's he been doing in the winter break and has he emerged in good shape,” he went on.
“I think he's going to have the bit between his teeth after that win and that he will come back. I think he is going to start winning again. Not necessarily in Abu Dhabi but I fancy him for the Masters,” he added.
This will be Woods’s debut tournament on the 2012 European Tour season. Much is being expected from him, as he is gearing up to kick off his brand new season in Abu Dhabi.
While playing against some of the big players, he will have to be consistent in his putts. This is the only way he can regain his lost glory while accepting any event’s invitation.
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