Michael Collins, Farrell Evans, Bob Harig, and Kevin Maguire talks about Abu Dhabi HSBC GOlf Championship, Farmers Insurance Open, Phil Mickelson, and the Humana Challenge.
Debating Tiger’s start to 2012
Each week during the 2012 golf season, ESPN’s experts will weigh in on the pressing — and not-so-pressing — issues in the game.
It’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship week … errr, Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines week, which means the hard-core golf fans will be getting up in the wee hours starting Thursday to watch Tiger Woods’ 2012 season debut on the European Tour. Those who choose to sleep in a little can still catch all the action from Southern California as some of the biggest names on the PGA Tour kick off their season in La Jolla.
1. Good call or bad call: Tiger Woods starting his 2012 season by playing in Abu Dhabi instead of Torrey Pines?
Michael Collins, ESPN.com senior golf writer: Great call. Everyone knows golf is a game of confidence, so by Tiger going to a course he’s never played before, even though he’s gonna say he’s there to win, the expectations won’t be as high as if he started his year at Torrey Pines, where he’s won six PGA Tour events and a U.S. Open.
Farrell Evans, ESPN.com senior golf writer, at the Humana Challenge: With seven wins on the South course at Torrey Pines, including the 2008 U.S. Open, it’s interesting that Tiger wouldn’t start his season at a place where he has had phenomenal success. But the Abu Dhabi event will have one of the strongest fields of the year. The most important thing is that Tiger plays competitive golf.
Bob Harig, ESPN.com senior golf writer, at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship: Good call. It is true that Tiger is turning his back on a venue where he has won seven times. But he had his worst finish there last year, a tie for 44th, so success is not guaranteed. And in Abu Dhabi, he gets a strong top-heavy field with each of the top-four-ranked players in the world. Of course, there is the issue of his appearance fee, which is probably in the seven-figure range. That is certainly good for Tiger.
Kevin Maguire, ESPN.com senior golf editor: It’s a terrible call for Tiger. Woods is likely getting a hefty appearance fee in Abu Dhabi. Even so, if he really wanted to start the season right, he should focus on courses that he practically owns, like Torrey Pines, instead of flying halfway around the world for a few guaranteed bucks.
This has been a very exciting week for the golf world..I am sure everyone cant wait this week’s games..
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