Woods withdraws from Chevron World Challenge

Tiger Woods has withdrawn from the Chevron World Challenge – an event he hosts – citing the injuries he sustained in the car accident he was involved in, in the early hours of Friday morning.

Woods stated in a statement issued via his website that his injuries prevented him from playing and that he would not compete again until next year. He had been scheduled to hold a news conference on Tuesday for the tournament.

“I am extremely disappointed that I will not be at my tournament this week,” Woods said. “I am certain it will be an outstanding event and I’m very sorry that I can’t be there.”

According to the Golf Channel, Woods is suffering headaches and soreness which will keep him from travelling to attend the tournament. Tournament organisers will begin offering ticket refunds on Dec. 7, and all 2009 ticket holders will receive a 20-percent discount off tickets to next year’s event. Ireland’s Graeme McDowell will now replace Woods in the select World Challenge field.

Best Value Golf Holidays abroad

With the ongoing economic downturn continuing to bite hard on the pocket, it makes sense to try to ensure that the best possible value is gained for your money. While there are many great value UK golf breaks, golfers are increasingly looking further afield and there is now a wide selection of golf breaks in Europe to choose from which can offer comparative value to those in the UK and taking a golf holiday abroad is becoming more and more popular.

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Italy win the World Cup in China

For the second time in as many weeks, Rory McIlroy suffered a bout of seconditis as he and playing partner Graeme McDowell fell short of the finish line. This time it was the Omega Mission Hills World World Cup that eluded the young Irisman’s grasp.

The Irish pair had attempted to lead the field from the front after a blistering first-round of 58 but were unable to match that opening day feat. However, a run of four consecutive birdies appeared to have consolidated their advantage over the field before bogeys on the eighth and tenth holes, coupled with pars on the ninth and eleventh holes opened the door for their challengers.

And it was the Italian pair of Franciso and Edoardo Molinari who stepped through to win the World Cup for the first time – at least in golf. The duo also became the first set of brothers to win the event and round off a memorable season for both men; one in which had seen Francisco claim nine top-10 finishes on the European Tour and Edoardo top the Challenge Tour standings.

The Swedish pairing of Robert Karlsson and Henrik Stenson had led the tournament in the later stages and had had chances to win. Still in front on the 18th, they found themselves with a long putt for par which cruelly lipped-out the hole leaving the Italians a three-footer to win after Franciso had produced a long greenside bunker recovery to land almost dead at the hole. Edoardo gleefully took the chance, and rolled in the winning putt to seal the historic win.

Like McIlroy, Karlsson again tasted the runners-up spot for the second time, and again it was Edoardo who pipped him to the post; Edoardo having beat Karlsson in a play-off to win the Dunlop Phoenix tournament in Japan.

Sweden finished the tournament in a tie for second place with Ireland. England’s pair of Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher took fourth spot, while the Scots took the wooden spoon, finishing last of the 28 competing nations.

Ireland maintain World Cup lead

They weren’t able to match their opening round score, but the Irish pair of Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell still hold a three shot lead over the rest of the field after a second round 68 at the Omega Mission Hills World Cup.

It was always going to be a tough ask for the pair to match Thursday’s astonishing round, and they had to fight hard for their four-under par second round. All the signs point to a formidable duo which, should they both make it, should continue into the Ryder Cup at The Celtic Manor next year.

Opening up a five shot lead around the turn, they might well have disappeared over the horizon but they were pegged back by defending champions Sweden, whose pairing of Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson scored a combined total of 65. Their charge was helped by McDowell finding a water hazard on the 15th hole and an unwelcome reappearance for McIlroy’s short-putting problem; the Irishman missing from two feet for a double bogey.

However, back-to-back birdies on the next two holes saw the Irish pair rebuild their three-shot lead at the top of the leaderboard although Stenson and Karlsson also recorded late birdies to hang onto the leaders’ coat-tails.

The Italian pair of the Molinari brothers – Francesco and Edoarado – are a further shot behind in third place.

England’s Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher sit tied for ninth alongside South Africa, India and New Zealand after a 70 but are nine shots off the pace, while Germany are a further two shots back. Spain, meanwhile languish well off the pace at four under par and are ahead of only Scotland, Brazil and Pakistan.

Tiger Woods Hurt in Car Accident

World number one Tiger Woods has been treated in hospital in Florida after being injured in a car crash outside his home.

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