Sport
Tiger Woods World Challenge tournament scheduled for Dec.5-8
The World Challenge only offers world ranking points, not to mention a healthy holiday bonus. Even with a reduced purse without a title sponsor, McDowell made US$1 million and last place in the 18-man field paid US$120,000.
McLaughlin believes the appeal is the reduced field and low-key atmosphere. Along with the tournament host, the World Challenge typically attracts Steve Stricker, Bubba Watson, Hunter Mahan, Ian Poulter, Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler. And with the European Tour ending the same week as the PGA Tour, there’s a chance of getting additional players before they take their long winter’s nap.
”This is our 15th year, and it’s very important to Tiger,” McLaughlin said. ”For our foundation, it’s the first event we ever did. It would be hard to ever imagine not doing the event. I’ve had so many people – players, media – stop me throughout the year and say, ‘Are you doing the event again?”’
The World Challenge is one of three tournaments this year that benefit the Tiger Woods Foundation. The others are the AT&T National, which has one more year on its contract, and the Deutsche Bank Championship outside Boston. The foundation has taken over operations of that event from IMG.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press
