Page 23 - ARUBA TODAY

SPORTS Thursday 7 december 2017
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Column: PGA Tour gets a new version of Tigermania

By DOUG FERGUSON a news conference, his first
AP Golf Writer six questions were about
NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Woods.
The latest comeback by Ti- Thomas was paired with
ger Woods, this one follow- Woods for the first and final
ing a 10-month absence rounds, and while Woods
from a fourth back surgery had the largest gallery,
in three years, was sure there was rarely more than
to cause some disruption about 250 fans. It’s the Ba-
in the workforce with the hamas. So when Thomas
weekday television cover- was asked if felt the ef-
age. fect of Woods on the golf
That included the commis- course or in his news con-
sioner’s office at the PGA ference, he smiled.
Tour. “I would say more of the
“I would consider myself to fact that I just won the Fe-
be among the highly dis- dEx Cup, player of the year,
tracted as Tiger played his and all I get asked about
first round,” Jay Monahan is Tiger Woods,” he said.
said Tuesday. Thomas was not the least
Monahan was at the bit irritated, even though
Hero World Challenge the this was the 10th out 12
day before it began and consecutive questions
stayed for the pro-am din- Tiger Woods plans his putt on second hole of the Hero World Challenge at Albany Golf Club in he fielded about Woods
ner, where he said Woods Nassau, Bahamas, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017. on that day. “I thought it
spoke from the heart about Associated Press was bad the questions I
his foundation, thanked the world, and it included one mix, and we all go away Justin Thomas, Jordan Spi- got asked about Jordan,”
other 17 players for coming guy who had earned rank- from it with a lot of excite- eth, Brooks Koepka, Daniel Thomas said. Golf wasn’t
and reminded them they ing points at only two tour- ment.” Berger — know more about suffering without Woods,
had a chance to compete naments over the last two How much Woods is in the the legend of Woods than not inside the ropes. Dat-
against a player at No. years. mix remains to be seen, al- what it’s like to have him at ing to when Woods had
1,199 in the world ranking. There’s no way to go but though this was as strong as tournaments. his first back surgery, Rory
“That broke up the room,” up. he has looked in four years. Thomas got a taste of it. McIlroy won two majors in
Monahan said with a laugh. That’s what Monahan took Next up is figuring out a He is the FedEx Cup cham- 2014; Spieth got halfway to
Indeed, it’s rare for a player away from the holiday ex- schedule that Woods said pion and PGA Tour player the calendar Grand Slam
to tie for ninth and move hibition, only he wasn’t talk- would be geared around of the year after winning in 2015; Dustin Johnson ful-
up 531 spots in the world ing about the world rank- the four majors. He hasn’t five times, including his first filled his potential with his
ranking — Woods now is all ing. played all four since 2015, major at the PGA Champi- first major in 2016 and was
the way up to No. 668 — “We had such a strong year and he hasn’t made the onship. He started the new voted player of the year.
but such were the circum- with great, young players cut in all of them since 2013. season by winning the CJ And this year brought the
stances. The field featured stepping forward,” he said. Most of the young play- Cup in South Korea. emergence of the 24-year-
eight of the top 10 in the “You add Tiger back in the ers at Albany Golf Club — And when he sat down for old Thomas.q

Manning: Role at Tennessee

is now ‘donor, supporter, fan’

By RALPH D. RUSSO NFL great, will be inducted As the Tennessee search
AP College Football Writer into the College Football has lurched forward, there
NEW YORK (AP) — Peyton Hall of Fame on Tuesday have been questions about
Manning says he takes his night. who is in charge and what
role as an ambassador for He said Tennessee is ca- influence Manning has had
the University of Tennessee pable of being among the throughout the process.
seriously and looks forward top programs in the coun- Manning was asked what
to supporting the Volun- try again. his role is now.
teers’ next football coach. “Obviously, it’s been a dif- “Donor, supporter, fan, all
Tennessee’s search for a re- ficult time but I know what of the above, what I’ve
placement for Butch Jones Tennessee is capable of always been,” he said.
has resulted in turmoil, with being, it’s what it was when “I’ve always supported —
fan protests, the firing of I was in school there,” Man- obviously Coach Fulmer
athletic director John Cur- ning said at a news confer- was my coach — but sup-
rie and the hiring of former ence. ported every coach we’ve
Vols coach Philip Fulmer as “I’ve been a devout sup- ever had: Lane Kiffin, Derek
AD. porter and always will be Dooley, Butch Jones. And I
After being turned down and look forward to hope- look forward to supporting
by several coaches, Ten- fully getting it back to whoever our next coach is. Former University of Tennessee football quarterback Peyton
nessee is still searching. where it was back when It’s a role I take very Manning answers questions during a news conference of the
National Football Foundation College and Football Hall of Fame,
Manning, the former Vols I was in school. Great seriously.”q in New York, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017.
quarterback and longtime place.” ___ Associated Press