Will course design work hinder Tiger's performance?
On Dec. 3, Tiger Woods announced he will design his first course, Al Ruwaya, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It's a site he'll get a look at this week, while competing in the European Tour's Dubai Desert Classic.
The progression is a natural one for Woods. Such major champions as Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo -- along with dozens of others -- have also delved into this side of the business at one point in their careers.
But the questions need to be asked: Will course design limit Tiger's playing schedule? Will it prevent him from seeing his extraordinary pursuit of history come to fruition?
We asked the experts in this week's edition of Fact or Fiction.
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| Woods |
Bob Harig, contributor, ESPN.com: FICTION. He can't play any less than the 15 he played last year, and chances are, he'll always be in the 18 to 20 range. If he plays less, it won't be because of his design duties.
Jason Sobel, golf editor, ESPN.com: FACT. Maybe not right away, maybe not even for another decade. But it happens to all the great ones: Play a little less, design a little more. After a while, the lines are blurred between golfer and course designer until slowly, gradually, the man's playing career is but a legend. Let's hope we're still a good 30 years from that time.
Ron Sirak, executive editor, Golf World: FICTION. Tiger plays pretty much the same schedule every year, and that won't change. He sets up his year to peak for the majors, and that won't change until he passes Jack.
Brian Wacker, associate editor, GolfDigest.com: FICTION. Tiger's schedule is practically etched in stone year after year as he plays the same events on a consistent basis, no matter his off-course commitments. If anything, the birth of his first child could have the biggest impact on what tournaments he does and doesn't play this year.
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| Woods |
Harig: FICTION. While he is in the prime of his career, this will take up but a fraction of his time and will be carefully scheduled so not to interfere with golf.
Sobel: FICTION. You know what will preclude Woods from playing his best golf? Absolutely nothing, it seems. In fact, that reads like more of a rhetorical question. Though he may spend some time working on courses in his new role, expect this to have zero impact in his on-course performance.
Sirak: FICTION. Tiger is a champion, and that's where his focus will remain. Besides, he'll have a lot of other people doing the heavy lifting.
Wacker: FICTION. We've seen time and time again that when Tiger Woods plays in a tournament, he comes prepared. There's no reason to think that his course design business will have any impact whatsoever on his ability to play his best golf.
 Tiger Woods"> | |
| Woods |
Harig: FACT. It is hard to envision Tiger skipping what amounts to his hometown tournament.
Sobel: FACT. There are already rumors and rumblings that Tiger may skip the event which first hosted him as an amateur in 1992, but I've got to believe, when push comes to shove, he'll be at Riviera on Feb. 15.
Sirak: FACT. The folks there gave him a sponsor's exemption in 1992 when he was 16 years old. He has paid them back with loyalty, and that won't change.
Wacker: FACT. Only once in his career -- in 2002 -- has Tiger skipped his hometown Nissan Open, and that was due to a knee injury. As coy as he likes to be about what his upcoming schedule is, there's no reason he would pass on the tournament, even though he's never won there.
