Tiger Woods always makes the news, even when it comes to poker like this week, in the temple of the game in Las Vegas, where the golf champion organized a charity tournament for his foundation, in favor of underprivileged young people. It is not clear if Tiger will play a few hands at the green table, but it is certain that the winner will have the privilege of playing golf with him in the near future. The appointment with poker is for Friday, April 27, at the Mandalay Bay Resort, with buy-ins of ten thousand dollars, which also entitle you to a two-night suite in the resort and two VIP tickets to attend Tiger Jam on Saturday, concert with John Bon Jovi.
The legendary golfer's choice may seem unusual, but poker is gaining more and more ground in the USA where it is now the third most watched "sport" on TV. Exceptional guests and presenters of the tournament will be two champions of the game table: Phil Hellmuth and Doyle Brunson, while there is waiting to find out if Phil Ivery, the champion nicknamed "the Tiger Woods of poker", will participate.
The real Tiger, who is still licking his wounds from his last participation in the Masterss, from his website promises to return to the golf courses in the two tournaments of the Pga Tour, scheduled for May 3-6 and May 10-13. Waiting to find the champion again, the American tour and the European tour stop this week in New Orleans and Seoul respectively.
The Zurich Classic Open is held in Louisiana where Bubba Watson will have to defend the title won last year and put his game to the test again after his fantastic victory in Augusta a few weeks ago. The likeable left-handed man defined his style as "almost golf" and joked a lot about his self-taught career, never polluted by a lesson. He has vowed to still want to go “far” with his game, since he is only the longest golfer on the tour, now crowned even with a major. In the field, to contend for the title, there are champions such as the Northern Irish Graeme McDowell, the English Justin Rose, the Americans Keegan Bradley and Steve Stricker. Englishman Luke Donald will also try, who often fails to win on the US tour and in recent weeks has had to hand over the scepter to Rory McIlroy again. Rest instead for the Northern Irish champion who, from the top of the world ranking, is now a full-blown star, able to wisely dose his appearances.
The European tour on the other hand moves to South Korea, for The Ballantine Championship. The event will be broadcast live by Sky and fans will be able to follow the performances of the Australian Adam Scott, the Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez, the Englishman Ian Poulter, the winner of the British Open Darren Clarke and the Italian Andrea Pavan, provided that the director grants him some framing. Also on the field is the great Ernie Els, the South African who is trying to get back in shape after a few years of hard crisis, especially in short putts.
Last week on the European tour Francesco Molinari hit a splendid sixth place al at the Volvo China open, while the young South African Branden Grace (24 years old) took the third victory of the season.
On the same days, in the States, the Varadero Texas Open was taking place, a tournament for second row players, with an exciting ending. Ben Curtis, 35, champion at the British open in 2003, won the competition after six years of fasting and thus managed to climb 100 places in the world rankings (he is now number 156). The long drought had also made him lose the right to participate in tournaments and therefore, tightening his belt, every time he had to line up waiting for some renunciation. This return to victory guarantees him a two-year qualifying exemption. Golf is not only made up of millions and sponsors, but also of sacrifices. One in a thousand makes it and Ben Curtis, this time, has climbed back on top.
