[Golf Topic] McIlroy "Competing in Woods-Hosted Hero World Challenge"… 15 of Top 20 Players Participating

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] ○…‘The CJ Cup champion’ Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland, photo) will participate in the special event Hero World Challenge hosted by ‘Golf Emperor’ Tiger Woods (USA).

On the 19th (Korean time), the tournament organizing committee announced, "15 of the world’s top 20 players, including ‘Number 8’ McIlroy, will participate in the tournament held for four days from December 2nd at Albany on New Providence Island, Bahamas." World No. 1 Jon Rahm (Spain) and No. 2 Dustin Johnson (USA) are absent, but No. 3 Collin Morikawa leads the group, along with No. 4 to 7 Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele, Bryson DeChambeau, and Justin Thomas (all USA).

Brooks Koepka, Tony Finau, Jordan Spieth (all USA), Abraham Ancer (Mexico), Viktor Hovland (Norway), Tyrrell Hatton, Justin Rose (both England), and Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) are included. Additionally, defending champion Henrik Stenson (Sweden) will also participate. Since 2000, this tournament has been hosted by the Woods Foundation, inviting only a select few top players. Although it is not an official PGA Tour event, world ranking points are awarded.

Last year’s event was canceled due to COVID-19, so it will be held for the first time in two years. This year, 20 players will participate, two more than usual. It is not known whether Woods, who injured his leg in a traffic accident in February this year, will participate as a player. Recently, he attracted attention by appearing without crutches at a junior golf tournament where his son competed. Woods, who has won five times, posted on social media, "I look forward to welcoming great players" and "I think it will be a wonderful week."