Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Thursday 21 February 2019

Tiger Woods

Continued from Page 17 mentioned 9,000 feet.
So is 7,800 feet incorrect?
“I’m sure the energy will be “Maybe,” DeChambeau
up, people will be excited,” said with a grin. “It’s more
Woods said Wednesday. than just altitude. You
“I think yesterday was a could have an air pressure
closed day, but there was system that is like sea level
a lot of people out there, a coming through here and
lot of members and a lot of effectively change it. That’s
kids that somehow didn’t what I mean by that.”
go to school. I’m sure it will He also mentioned the
be like that the rest of the slower decay of spin rate
week, and it will be a lot of with no air resistance, but
fun for all of us.” suffice to say the ball goes
It certainly will be an expe- father this week for every-
rience for Abraham Ancer, one.
who will play with Woods Ian Poulter was preparing
and Bryson DeChambeau to hit driver on the 316-yard
the opening two rounds. opening hole Wednesday
The Mexican player with the when Dustin Johnson inter-
best world ranking gets into rupted him. Tiger Woods hits the ball during a practice prior the WGC-Mexico Championship at the Chapultepec
the 72-man field. Ancer, “Isn’t that going to fly over Golf Club in Mexico City, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019.
who grew up just south of the green?” Johnson said. Associated Press
the Texas border in Reyno- Poulter looked up and re- Golf is still in its relative in- in Mexico. start. Next on his list of pri-
sa, played last year at No. plied, “I don’t carry the ball fancy in Mexico, though “Tiger definitely moves the orities is building public fa-
260 in the world. Now he is 370 yards in the air.” the appeal changes when needle,” said Benjamin Sa- cilities, which at some point
at No. 61, knowing he has Johnson played the front one of the most recogniz- linas, the CEO of TV Azteca would require government
an outside shot at cracking nine with Woods, and they able athletes in the world and lead voice for Gru- help in a country that wor-
the top 50 in the world to were joined by defending is in town. Security has in- po Salinas at the Mexico ships soccer, baseball and
earn a spot in the Masters. champion Phil Mickelson creased this year, most of Championship. “When he the NFL. But they all know
He said he idolized Woods and Jon Rahm. It was the that because of Woods. announced he was com- Tiger. “This event goes a
and playing with him “will final day of practice, and Grupo Salinas took over ing, ticket sales leaped ten- long way to showcasing
be something unforget- yet the right side of the sponsorship of this WGC in fold. He moves Mexico.” what the possibilities are,”
table.” fairway looked like Sunday the summer of 2016, when Salinas announced two Woods said. “After that, it’s
If he stands too close to De- at Chapultepec last year. Woods was recovering more chapters of The First trying to get access, try-
Chambeau, that might be That’s the Tiger effect. from two back surgeries. Tee in Cancun and Puerto ing to get the kids. We can
unforgettable, too. Mexico Mexico is the 21st country There was no guarantee if Vallarta, bringing the total get them excited about
City is at roughly 7,800 feet where Woods has com- his game would get back, to five chapters with the the game, but it becomes
altitude, though that de- peted, so he is used to the so news of his decision to goal of one in every state. problematic when the ex-
pends on the definition of reaction from those seeing play last week was massive He said 100 boys and girls citement doesn’t really turn
altitude, for DeChambeau him for the first time. for small sector of golf fans are involved, so it’s a slow into participation.”q

Spieth keeping patience amid

worst slump of career

By DOUG FERGUSON ours,’” Spieth said. “So I got Open in Hawaii to shake off
AP Golf Writer it out.” the rust from a busy offsea-
MEXICO CITY (AP) — For a Bad news? son that included getting
brief moment, Jordan Spi- “I still made triple,” he said married. He missed the cut.
eth had reason to believe with a laugh. Since then, he has opened
he finally caught a good He picked up his third ma- with rounds of 65 at Tor-
break with a bad shot. jor in the 2017 British Open rey Pines, 66 at the AT&T
He was trying to hit a hard, when he his tee shot car- Pebble Beach Pro-Am and
low draw on the fifth hole omed off a spectator’s 64 at Riviera. He has yet to
of the final round at Riviera head and into the dunes break par on the weekend.
into a strong wind and a right of the 13th fairway His best result was a tie for
light rain. Instead, it caught at Royal Birkdale. He hit 35th at Torrey.
the heel of his 3-wood 3-wood after a penalty The weekends have been
and spun out to the right, drop on the driving range, an issue, and Spieth said as
smacked off a tree and somehow escaped with much after he finished his
went further back next to a bogey, and then went first round at Riviera.
fence, just beyond a white birdie-eagle-birdie-birdie “I got off to good starts my
out-of-bounds stake. to win. last couple events and I
Good news: The rules offi- That was 37 tournaments need to continue to work
cial said the stake was left ago, and it’s starting to feel hard to improve each day
there by accident. even longer. here instead of getting
Jordan Spieth reacts after missing a putt on the first hole during
the final round of the Genesis Open golf tournament at Riviera “He said, ‘That’s not sup- Coming off the first win- complacent and assuming
Country Club on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019, in the Pacific Palisades posed to be there.’ He lit- less year of his pro career, my game is there,” he said.
area of Los Angeles. erally picked up the white Spieth made a last-minute “It’s still not quite there tee-
Associated Press stake and said, ‘This isn’t decision to play the Sony to-green.” q