Tiger Woods returns to the sideline this week as a guest at the Quicken Loans National tournament hosted by his foundation at the Congressional Country Club (Blue) in Bethseda, Maryland.
"I'm progressing - says the champion in the press conference - and every day I feel stronger". However, the official return date has not yet been set: "I hope to do it as soon as possible" he adds. It's been 10 months since Tiger has competed, in which time he underwent two new back surgeries. “The point – he continues – is that a tournament involves 18 holes for 4 or 5 days in a row. I have to train, I don't want to make the mistake of picking up too early again. I have to give myself time, but I feel good, my fat mass has dropped and my weight hasn't. I'm also gaining meters with the drive, so I hope to play within a short time. It's hard for me to be on the bench, my place is out there, competing with these guys."
There are 120 players on the field between today and Sunday. Among them Francesco Molinari who is resuming his journey on the PGA Tour, after last week's forced stop for the US Open won by Dustin Johnson, where the Turinese unfortunately was not qualified. The goal now is the Open Championship, the third major of the year scheduled from 14 to 17 July in Scotland. An important goal also for Matteo Manassero who instead was very good last week at the US Open, he passed the cut and conquered the 46th position, even ahead of a champion like Rory McIlroy, out of the cut and dropped to fourth position in the world rankings.
This weekend's field includes big names like Rickie Fowler, Jim Furyk, Patrick Reed. The course is a par 70 of 6500 metres. Up for grabs is $6,9 million; 1,242 million for the former.
On the other side of the ocean the European tour is, from today to Sunday, in Germany, at the Gut Laerchenhof Golf Club, in Pulheim, for the BMW International Open. There are five Italians on the pitch: Matteo Manassero, Renato Paratore, Nino Bertasio, Edoardo Molinari and Francesco Laporta. The Swedish Henrik Stenson, world number seven, the English Danny Willett, number nine, winner of the Masters and leader of the European money list, and the Spaniard Sergio Garcia, number 12, are the most representative players at the starting tees. Defending the title Pablo Larrazabal.
The race is of particular importance for Nino Bertasio, 60th in the Olympic Ranking and intending to go to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Therefore, his performances before July 11th, the closing date of the classification which will designate the 60 admitted, will be decisive.
The prize pool is 2 million euros. The tournament is broadcast live on Sky Sports.
