Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Thursday 28 February 2019
Honda Classic gets only 3 of the world's top 20 players

By TIM REYNOLDS year at the Honda Clas-
AP Sports Writer sic, which he often calls his
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. home event. McIlroy had
(AP) — Dustin Johnson, Rory appeared in the tourna-
McIlroy and Tiger Woods ment nine times in the last
are among the golfers who 10 seasons. Woods and
live in the vicinity of PGA McIlroy waged one of the
National and may very well most memorable final-
be home this weekend. round matchups in Honda
They just won't be playing history in 2012 — Woods
at the Honda Classic. carded an 8-under 62 to
The condensing of the vault up the leaderboard,
PGA Tour schedule is forc- and the then-22-year-old
ing players to make some McIlroy wound up winning
tough decisions, and the by two shots to become
Honda Classic didn't ex- No. 1 in the world for the
actly benefit from a lot of first time.
those choices. Only three Woods is likely to play four
of the top 20 players in the times in a five-tournament
world ranking are in the stretch. He is coming off
field for the event begin- starts in Los Angeles and
ning Thursday — No. 3 and Mexico and plans to com-
defending champion Justin pete at Bay Hill next week
Thomas, No. 4 Brooks Koep- and The Players the fol-
ka and No. 9 Rickie Fowler. Brooks Koepka tees off on the fourth hole during the Pro-Am of the Honda Classic golf tournament, lowing week. To play five
Next up: No. 21 Webb Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. consecutive weeks is a big
Simpson and No. 23 Gary Associated Press ask for anyone, particularly
Woodland. someone like Woods, a
"There are a lot of guys players deciding among are fresh for the Masters as into his schedule this year. 43-year-old who has dealt
who live down here," said Riviera one week, then well. "The field isn't as strong as with injuries for years. Mc-
Woodland, who is one of the Honda Classic, then a "Nobody's playing five in a it typically is because of Ilroy is in the same four-
the South Florida-based World Golf Championship row," Honda Classic execu- where it is right now on the start, five-week stretch as
players who gets to sleep in in Mexico, then Tampa, tive director Ken Kennerly schedule," Woodland said. Woods.
his own bed this week. "But then Bay Hill, then another said. "It's in a tough spot." It's easy to see how the
with tournaments moving WGC for Match Play. This isn't an issue exclusive Johnson hasn't played the Honda Classic paid the
around, there are a lot of This year, it goes Riviera, to the Honda Classic. Phil Honda Classic since post- price. "There are still some
tournaments right now that Mexico, Honda, Bay Hill, Mickelson skipped playing ing rounds of 77 and 75 great players playing," said
are really good in a row. The Players Championship, at Torrey Pines, his home and missing the cut by Daniel Berger, who — like
I skipped Riviera, which Tampa and then the WGC- course, this year for the first eight shots in 2015, so his Johnson, Woods and Mc-
is one of my favorite golf Match Play. time in 29 seasons — and absence this week can't be Ilroy — lives a short drive
courses, but you have to That is a lot of really good has hinted that he could considered surprising. from PGA National. "But
find the time." options, all coming with sit out The Players Champi- Not having Woods or McIl- you want guys like Dustin,
Last year at this time, the a lot of players probably onship as well. Woodland roy is different. guys like Tiger, Rory. But it's
run of tournaments saw mindful of making sure they loves Bay Hill but can't fit it Woods finished 12th last just a give-and-take. q

Healthy Michcelle Wie returns to Singapore aiming to defend title

Women's World Champi- sustained extensive neck is- Wie will be playing for the
onship title at Sentosa Golf sues in the car accident. 10th time in the Singapore
Club's Tanjong course. The 29-year-old American is tournament and she's
Wie underwent surgery on taking precautions to work joined by world No. 1 Ariya
her right hand earlier this toward her 2019 goals — Jutanugarn, along with the
month because of lingering playing injury-free, making top 15 players in the Wom-
issues from a car accident the Solheim Cup team for en's World Golf Rankings,
two years ago. She played a sixth time and attempt- including No. 4 Inbee Park
in last week's LPGA Thailand ing to win another major to making her season debut.
tournament, where she fin- add to her 2014 U.S. Open Jutanugarn will tee off
ished tied for 23rd behind triumph. Thursday in the last group
winner Amy Yang. "I guess as an old person of the no-cut, 63-player
"I feel extremely lucky to now, a veteran out on field with No. 3 Sung Hyun
even be here this year, tour, physio and recovery is Park and No. 7 Minjee Lee.
so I'm just soaking it all in key for me," said Wie, who Nelly Korda, who won the
and having a lot of fun," started on the LPGA Tour Women's Australian Open
In this March 4, 2017, file photo, Michelle Wie of the United States Wie told a pre-tournament in 2009. "My life kind of re- two weeks ago, leads the
tees off on the 2nd hole during the HSBC Women's Champions
golf tournament at Sentosa Golf Club's Tanjong course in Sin- news conference. "Just the volves around it. I travel 2019 Race to the CME
gapore. feeling that I felt after last with my private physio and Globe with 780 points, fol-
Associated Press year ... I just felt so relieved. we have treatment every lowed by other 2019 win-
I knew that I had overcome day, whether it's getting ners Eun-Hee Ji (Diamond
SINGAPORE (AP) — The Australia and Asia with a a lot of stuff within the last needles in, whether it's ic- Resorts Tournament of
LPGA Tour completes its healthy Michelle Wie aim- couple of years." ing; I have my devices that Champions) with 610 points
four-week swing through ing to defend her HSBC Wie fractured her hand and I carry around with me." and Yang with 576.q