No rest for Woods with lucrative China event in sights (Reuters) Updated: 2005-11-08 10:35
LONDON, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Tiger Woods, a master of trimming his playing
schedule to peak for the big events, had little time to spare at the end of the
2005 PGA Tour.
Within hours of his runner-up place behind surprise winner and fellow
American Bart Bryant at East Lake Golf Club on Sunday, the world number one was
on a plane for Shanghai and this week's Champions tournament.
"I'm excited about the prospects of my fall (autumn) season and next year
because of the things that have transpired this week," Woods told reporters
after completing his 13th top-10 finish of the U.S. season in 21 starts.
"Playing around the world is one of the perks of professional golf and I have
been eager to work a return visit to China into my schedule.
"There is a real buzz about golf in China as it grows in popularity so I
think it will be an amazing week for both the players and the fans," added
Woods, who led the 2005 PGA Tour in earnings with a career-best $10.6 million.
The inaugural Champions tournament, the richest event in Asian golf history
with a purse of $5 million, is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, the European
Tour, the PGA Tour of Australia and the South African Sunshine Tour.
Starting at the Sheshan International Golf Club on Thursday, the event brings
together title winners from the four sanctioning tours. Its impressive entry
list includes world number two Vijay Singh and U.S. PGA champion Phil Mickelson.
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