Tiger skips ‘Asia’s major’
WORLD No.1 Tiger Woods will miss the $US5 million ($6.2 million) Champions Tournament in Shanghai for the first time this year.
“Due to personal and professional scheduling issues, Tiger Woods will not compete … but we hope to welcome him back in 2008 and beyond,” said tournament sponsor HSBC on its official golfing website overnight.
Woods featured prominently in the first two editions of the event, often referred to as “Asia’s major championship”.
The American was second behind England’s David Howell in 2005 and finished runner-up a year later, this time to South Korea’s Yang Yong-eun.
Although Woods will be missing, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh and Sergio Garcia have confirmed their intention to compete at the Sheshan International Golf Club from November 8-11.
World No.4 Els is poised to make his debut at the tournament.
The Champions Tournament is co-sanctioned by the European, Asian, Australasian and Sunshine tours and the China Golf Association.
Reuters