Woods keen for more Turkish delight

TIGER Woods is set for another taste of Turkish delight later this year. After visiting the emerging golfing nation last October to play in the World Golf Final, an unofficial event won by Justin Rose, the world No 1 is returning for the Turkish Airlines Open in November.
Tiger Woods in action at Sawgrass. Picture: GettyTiger Woods in action at Sawgrass. Picture: Getty
Tiger Woods in action at Sawgrass. Picture: Getty

The £4.6 million event is being played at The Montgomerie Maxx Royal, a course designed by Colin Montgomerie in Belek, and will be the penultimate tournament in the new ‘Final Series’ on the European Tour. It will feature a 78-man field, with Chubby Chandler, whose company has been heavily 
involved in its inception, making no secret of the fact it has been shaped around Woods.

“We almost based the tournament date with the European Tour around which week he could play and this week suited the Tour and Tiger Woods,” said the ISM managing director. “With Turkey being a country of not that many golfers, I’m afraid that the other 77 players won’t be familiar names to the Turkish people, whereas Tiger is.

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“To have the world No 1 there is important and I think it 
always makes it a special win if a European can beat Tiger in a tournament of this stature.”

Meanwhile, Edinburgh could be added to next year’s destinations for an amateur event being run in tandem with the Turkish Open. The World Golf Cup Final is for amateurs and will conclude at the same time in Antalya, with the winner partnering Woods in the pro-am. As a Turkish Airlines destination, Edinburgh may host a 2014 qualifier.

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