The Pga Tour inaugurates the new 2016-2017 season and restarts today from California, precisely from the Safeway Open, at the Silverado Resort and Spa, north course. The real news, however, is not the race or who will be there, but who will not be there: Tiger Woods. All the newspapers, even those that dedicate very few lines to golf, have recorded the "no, thank you" uttered by the American champion in recent days. Because Tiger Woods, who has been out of competition for 14 months, is not a golfer, he is golf. Processing the mourning of missing him for the fans, for the TVs, for the organizers, for his colleagues is very hard. A few weeks ago Tiger had launched a bait: I feel good, he said, if it goes on like this, I'll play in California and Turkey. The champagne corks had flown, hooray, the sweater takes color again. Three days ago, however, the cold shower arrived: sorry, I made a mistake, I'm retiring.
“After looking within and honestly reflecting I know I'm not quite ready to play on the PGA Tour or compete in Turkey. My health is good, and I feel strong, but my game is vulnerable and not at the point where where it should be". One can even think that this is the antechamber of farewell, except that the former world number one promises to try again. Hopes are rekindled for December 4, the date of the event organized by his foundation, but 26 days later Tiger turns 41 and it is difficult to really believe that he will return with his former grit.
Today Woods finds himself vulnerable and for someone who has had the determination to win a major on one leg that's an incredible admission. He evidently does not want to be part of the ranks: either number one or nothing. And the second option is much more likely. Tiger is vulnerable in body, because he's had three back surgeries in two years and a long string of injuries before that, and in his soul. The red light scandal that decreed the end of his marriage and compromised his public image weighs heavily on his head. Ten years ago Tiger had everything in his grasp: even the White House, if one day he decided to give it a try. Then he became just anyone, someone who can be gossiped about and watched for fairness in the game. One that cannot be trusted. These are things that weigh, especially in a sport where the mind is so much, if not everything.
Closing the premise, let's move on to who is in Napa, California. In the long list of participants we find important names such as Phil Mickelson, Matt Kuchar, Paul Casey and the reigning champion Emiliano Grillo. The course is a par 72 of approximately 6500 metres, designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. in 1967. There are 6 million dollars up for grabs, over one million for the first and the first 500 points of the new FedexCup "championship", which it will come to an end in 12 months.
However, the European golf year is not over yet and continues its approach to the Final Series with the British Masters, at The Grove in Chandlers Cross, in England. Renato Paratore, Matteo Manassero and Nino Bertasio are the Italians competing, in a field that includes Danny Willett, title defending Matthew Fitzpatrick, Lee Westwood, Andy Sullivan, Chris Wood, all in the European Ryder Cup team. And then Luke Donald, Shane Lowry, Graeme McDowell.
Renato Paratore is back from a seventh place in the Dunhill Links in Scotland and is looking for a good placement to enter the first 60 of the order of merit in the Race to Dubai, the European ranking, to compete precisely in the last three rich and prestigious tournaments of the 'year. The prize pool is 3,3 million euros.
The European circuit will conclude the season in Dubai, from 17 to 20 November. Today's Race to Dubai is led by Willett, followed by Henrik Stenson, Rory Mcilroy (Fedexcup winner), Tyrell Hutton, Rafa Cabrera Bello, to name the top five. Francesco Molinari is currently the only Italian qualified for the Final Series, although he has almost always played in the USA. His score in Europe shot up thanks to his beautiful victory at the Italian Open.
