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Monday 4 deceMber 2017
Rickie Fowler rallies with 61 to win in Tiger Woods’ return

By DOUG FERGUSON close to flawless on the England who is getting Conditions were far tam- ing. Woods chopped up
AP Golf Writer front nine. He holed birdie married Tuesday in the Ba- er for the final round and the 10th hole on his way to
NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) putts of about 12 feet on hamas, closed with a 67 Woods got off to a start double bogey, and while
— Rickie Fowler and Tiger the first two holes, hit a gap and tied for third with Jor- strong, buoyed by driving he added three birdies
Woods each had cause wedge to 3 feet on the par- dan Spieth (69), who has the par-4 seventh green with his power and putting
for celebrations large and 5 third, made his toughest not finished out of the top and curling in a 25-foot ea- along the back nine, he
small Sunday in the Hero three-putted the 18th from
World Challenge. about 15 feet for his sec-
Fowler rallied from a sev- ond straight bogey.
en-shot deficit by starting “He’s obviously a lot more
his final round with seven upbeat, a lot more posi-
straight birdies at Albany tive, a lot healthier than he
Golf Club and closing with was last year at this time,”
an 11-under 61 for a four- said Justin Thomas, the
shot victory over Charley PGA Tour player of the year
Hoffman. who was paired with him in
It was the second victory of the first and final rounds.
the year for Fowler, and the “He’s got a lot of energy.
second time he has ended It’s just so weird to say that
a year with multiple victo- you’re excited for some-
ries worldwide. body else’s year, but it will
“Finally just kind of got ev- be a fun year. And I hope
erything to piece togeth- we dual it out a lot this up-
er,” said Fowler, who moves coming year.”
to No. 7 in the world. Woods appears to be
In a week that began with back, at least to playing.
so much curiosity over how He has not said where he
Woods would perform, he will start in 2018, though he
had his best result in four made it clear he plans on
years. More than his score, not being a stranger.
he looked just as strong at Rickie Fowler, right, poses with Tiger Woods and the trophy after Fowler won the Hero World The best bet is the Farmers
end, including a vicious re- Challenge golf tournament at Albany Golf Club in Nassau, Bahamas, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017. Insurance Open at Torrey
coil on a 2-iron he hit from Pines, where he has won
265 yards on the third hole putt into the green from 10 since the PGA Champi- gle putt. His birdie on No. eight times and considers
that ran through the green. 15 feet on No. 4, and then onship. 9 gave him another 31 on a hometown event from his
Playing for the first time in holed a bunker shot on No. A year ago, Woods re- the front — his second such roots in California.
10 months while recover- 5. He followed that with turned from a 15-month score in two days — and “I don’t know what my
ing from fusion surgery on another wedge that spun hiatus from back surgeries never ending interest from schedule is going to be,
his lower back — his fourth back to a foot on the par- and showed flashes of his the gallery. On Sunday, but my expectations are
back surgery in three years 5 sixth, and he hit out of a old self, particularly when that included his two chil- we’ll be playing next year,”
— Woods shot another 31 bunker to about 7 feet on he shot 65 in the second dren dressed in red shirts, he said.
on the front nine, closed the next hole. round and ended the week and tennis great Rafa Nad- “How many? Where? I
with back-to-back bogeys “I knew I needed to get off with 24 birdies. Woods said al. don’t know yet, but we’ll
and shot a 68. to a quick start to at least nothing about his health He just couldn’t keep it go- figure it out.” q
He tied for ninth in the 18- show Charley I was there,” that week, though his back
man field, his best result Fowler said. couldn’t withstand the
since a playoff loss at this By then, he was tied for rough at Torrey Pines and Jenner scores in OT, Canada
holiday event in 2013 at the lead as Hoffman, who the 16-hour flight to Dubai.
Sherwood Country Club in birdied his first hole, began He withdrew after one beats United States 2-1
California. to drop shots and work to round at Dubai with back
“I’m excited,” Woods said. make par. spasm and had the fusion By MIKE COOK
“This is the way I’ve been He never caught up and surgery in April. Associated Press
playing at home.” shot 72. Fowler went out in This return was different ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Shannon Szabados said the
He still finished 10 shots be- 28 and then added birdies from how far he hit the ball Canadian and United States women’s hockey teams
hind Fowler. Then again, on the 11th and 13th holes with plenty of speed in his could play 100 times and it would not get boring.
Fowler didn’t give anyone to stretch his lead. swing (his ball speed ap- That was true in another close game Sunday.
much of a chance. Fowler finished at 14-under proached 180 mph), and Brianne Jenner scored 37 seconds into overtime,
Fowler, whose lone PGA 274. he made putts from the 8- Szabados made 27 saves and Canada beat the
Tour victory this year was Tommy Fleetwood, the to 15-foot range than he United States 2-1 in a pre-Olympic exhibition game.
in the Honda Classic, was Race to Dubai winner from has in recent years. “It’s fun anytime we get to play them and why we
play each other so many times is because we have
that respect for each other and it helps both teams
prepare,” Szabados said.
Jenner took a pass from Rebecca Johnston and beat
Maddie Rooney with a high shot from the right circle.
This is the fifth of eight meetings between the teams
leading up to Olympics. Team USA has won three
games, including the championship last month in
the Four Nations Cup. Canada has won four straight
Olympic titles, but the U.S. has claimed seven of the last
budgetaruba@setarnet.aw eight world championships, including three straight.q