The Joy of Golf: World’s best turn their backs on matchplay

Joy Chakravarty 21:49 09/01/2014
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  • Sitting out: Adam Scott will not take part in he WGC-Accenture Match Play.

    Phil Mickelson’s decision not to play the WGC-Accenture Match Play last year looks likely to be followed by more stars opting out of the 64-man field.

    World No2 and Masters champion Adam Scott, has already said that he won’t be returning to Dove Mountain in Tucson, Arizona, when the tournament is played from February 19-22.

    Scott has played 11 consecutive Match Play Championships, but has not advanced beyond the second round since 2005, and has been a first-round casualty the last three years.

    While Mickelson, who won the Open Championship at Muirfield last year, is again expected to stay away after deciding to play even fewer events than in 2013, the reigning US Open champion Justin Rose has also indicated he might skip the only match play event on the PGA Tour schedule.

    The fact that three of the four major champions from last year may not be there, is a crying shame. After all, match play is the most common format in the game used by millions of amateurs across the globe.

    It is also a difficult tournament for the sponsors, considering that the top-ranked players can fall by the wayside in early rounds. But if the stars decide to stay away rather than face the possibility of an early exit, it becomes impossible.

    Good news for Tiger fans

    Even though it was hoped that world No1 Tiger Woods would begin his 2014 season at the Majlis course, I think it is actually better for the fans that he has remained faithful to Torrey Pines and the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, a week after the Farmer’s Insurance Open, will be his second tournament of the season.

    The presence of Woods, and his anticipated battle with Rory McIlroy and world No3 Henrik Stenson is the big talking point of the 25th Dubai Desert Classic. But now that he is starting in California, early-season rush would not be an issue with him, although a bit of jet-lag might hamper his chances in the Champions’ Challenge on Tuesday of the week.

    But as his rivals will tell you, come Thursday and Woods will be in prime condition to hunt down a third Dubai title.

    Equipment changes in 2014

    It’s a new year and a new season, and as expected, quite a few players announced their new equipment deals for 2014.

    Nothing can match the hype of Rory McIlroy switching to Nike at the beginning of 2013, but there are three new contracts, which are attracting our attention.

    The big one, obviously, is the match play Big Easy, Ernie Els. The four-time major champion will be playing with Adams, who are famous for their hybrid clubs.

    And the world No3 Henrik Stenson and reigning BMW PGA champion Matteo Manassero have signed up with Callaway. The Stenson deal was expected, as the Swede had played with a predominantly Callaway bag during his brilliant run last year.

    Caddie changes

    Some early caddie news…Lee Westwood is expected to start the season with Billy Foster back on his bag. Which means Mike Kerr, who worked with Westwood for a little more than a season following the knee surgery of Foster, will be searching for a new boss.

    PGA Tour star Patrick Reed was the most distinct presence on the course because of his caddie and wife Justine. But they are expecting a baby in the middle of the year, and hence maternity leave for Justine. Instead, Patrick’s new caddie will be brother-in-law Kessler Kerain.

    Relatives seem to be preferred these days as Dustin Johnson is going to stick with his brother Austin, after their successful experimentation at the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai last November, where the American beat Ian Poulter by three shots.

    Stat of the Week

    1.3 – billion dollars, career earnings of Tiger Woods since turning pro in 1996. Golf Digest has calculated that 88 per cent of that ($1.16 billion) has come from endorsements.

    Quote of the Week

    “I whispered that I was going to win this tournament for her. Though I came up short, I think she’d still be proud of me.” – Kevin Streelman reveals he told his one-week old daughter he’d win Hyundai Tournament of Champions. He finished tied-third.

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