Mexico City: Tiger Woods is set to compete in Mexico for the first time at the World Golf Championships and admitted Wednesday that he is not losing sleep over playing in high altitude or new surroundings.
Woods enjoyed unprecedented success in the tournament, winning it seven times in six different venues before it was moved to Mexico and renamed the WGC-Mexico Championship in 2017.
“I take a lot of pride in playing well in the biggest events, so that being the majors, the Players (Championship), and the World Golf Championships,” said Woods. “My record has been pretty good in those events.
“So just because this event has been in different places, it’s still against the best players in the world and I’ve always enjoyed competing against them and trying to beat them and win an event.”
The former world no.1 will take to the field Thursday against compatriot Bryson DeChambeau in the opening round at Club de Golf Chapultepec, where Phil Mickelson is the defending champion.
The Championship features 27 of the top 30 golfers in the world including former champions Dustin Johnson and Patrick Reed.
Chapultepec, lying at 7,000-plus feet above sea level, is a daunting challenge for golfers struggling at high altitude venues. Woods, who has been unable to compete in Mexico due to back issues, conceded that he is still trying to deal with that challenge.
“The ball was travelling obviously a long way,” said Woods. “The most interesting thing is the ball just doesn’t curve up here at altitude, there’s just not enough resistance. Shots that I thought I shaped just didn’t have any shape to it.”
Agencies
