The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE 2019 Hero World Challenge tees off today with several compelling storylines, most notably for the Bahamas, this year’s event also doubles as a means of bringing awareness and fundraising to the Hurricane Dorian relief effort.

For the fifth consecutive year, the $3.5 million Hero World Challenge will be hosted at the Albany resort and continues through Saturday. The event traditionally features 18 of the top golfers on the PGA Tour.

Pawan Munjal, chairman, managing director and CEO of Hero Motocorp, officially opened the week-long list of activities surrounding the event alongside Woods at the opening press conference. He noted that the individual performances of these elite golfers will directly benefit the One Bahamas Fund.

“It’s actually brilliant out there. This place, you have no clue, no idea that there was a hurricane in this country. Two of the islands were really, really devastated badly. We from the tournament are actually giving a challenge to all the players during this week to make birdies, eagles and aces, and every birdie counts for $500, every eagle counts for $1,000 and every ace counts for two and a half thousand dollars, and all this money that will be collected will be given to the One Bahamas Fund for giving back to the rebuilding of the two islands that got devastated.”

The week of festivities began with Monday’s Hero Shot at Baha Mar won by Woods, followed by yesterday’s Pro-Am.

“The start of the tournament, absolutely great. Yesterday the event at Baha Mar, the Hero Shot, I thought it was brilliant. Tiger showing signs of what’s coming this week. Obviously we’re looking forward to seeing Tiger - I was telling him, I would be very happy to give the Tiger trophy to Tiger this Saturday, but I would also like to wish all the rest of the 17 players the best of luck this week,” Munjal said.

[The Pro-Am] was brilliant, we had a lot of fun at the pro-am. Weather was gorgeous and I hope we get to see the same weather throughout this week.”

Tournament host Tiger Woods will again be the primary focus of the international golf community. He comes into this event ranked No.7 in the World Golf Rankings. He reiterated the impact the tournament is mandated to have on the Bahamian community following the catastrophic effect of Dorian.

“It’s important for all of us who are part of this community. I have an apartment here, I keep my boat here, I’ve been here for the better part of a decade now. It’s near and dear to my heart coming down to this area, but it’s sad to see the devastation that happened because of Dorian. Any way we can help rebuild, rebuild lives. There’s so many houses that have been destroyed and people just don’t have what they used to have. And it’s sad because when Dorian hit, we were in Florida and the hotel’s right next to my restaurant. It was full of people that couldn’t get back to their homes and they were stranded. It impacted us in the community, but nothing like down here. So it’s important for us as a tournament, it’s important for Hero as our partner to help any way we possibly can.”

In September, Woods partnered with singer/actor Justin Timberlake, Nexus, RBC and Albany Bahamas to establish the ONE Bahamas Fund to aide the rebuilding efforts in Abaco and Grand Bahama. In the days following Dorian, the group donated $6 million toward the various stakeholders in the recovery.

“Coming down here and playing golf, obviously it’s very chill. I pretty much exclusively play here [at Albany] I’ve been over to Baha Mar, been over to the Ocean Club, but I pretty much just play here,” Woods said, “Now, as far as things to do...going out there and getting some lobster and free diving and spear fishing, that’s something that I have just always loved to do. Coming down here, it’s gorgeous, and to be able to hop in that water and drop down. Unfortunately, I can’t do it this week, I’m a little busy.”

John Rahm comes in as the defending champion. He topped the 18-man field to finish at -20 and claim the 2018 title.

The 25-year-old Spaniard, closed with a -7 (65) in the final round to clinch the four stroke win and $1 million prize ahead of second place finisher Tony Finau and third place finisher Justin Rose.

“Well, it was a week where ball-striking was really important. Windy place like this, tough to make putts. It was just a fun week. This is the only event of the year where there’s only 18 players, it’s a rather relaxed atmosphere. Doesn’t count for Race to Dubai, doesn’t count for FedEx. It’s an enjoyable week. It’s easily treated like a vacation, really relaxed and can truly enjoy golf. So I think that contributed to me being just happy all week and allowed me to play really, really free and really nice golf. Can’t say, I mean, I had two really good rounds, the Friday round of 9 under and the 7 under the final round where I don’t remember missing a shot so it was definitely a really solid week all week, so hopefully I can replicate it this week and have as much fun as I did last year.”

Rickie Fowler is another tournament champion and shot a tournament record 61 in the final round to clinch the victory in 2017.

“Always good to be in The Bahamas. Also, someone who’s spent a lot of time at Bakers Bay and obviously keeping that part of The Bahamas in thoughts and prayers moving forward and getting that part of the world kind of rebuilt back up and running,” Fowler said, “It’s always fun to come to Albany here for the Hero. From Tiger’s event at Sherwood to Isleworth to being here for the past few years, it’s a fun week. Obviously an accomplishment to be a part of the field here and it’s always enjoyable.”

The 2019 field is no different than past years, with major champions, past tournament winners and accolades too great to count. With 12 members of the 2019 United States Presidents Cup team playing in this years World Challenge, the field strength and star power is second to none.

Rahm is the top ranked of the 18-man headed into the event, No.3 in the Official World Golf Rankings. The remainder of the field includes Justin Thomas (No.5), Patrick Cantlay (No.6), Woods (No.7), Justin Rose (No.8), Xander Schauffele (No.9), Bryson DeChambeau (No.12), Finau ( (No.15), Webb Simpson (No.11), Patrick Reed (No.16), Gary Woodland (No.17), Fowler (No.22), Matt Kuchar (No.23), Bubba Watson (No.40), Kevin Kisner (No.35), Henrik Stenson (No.42) and Jordan Spieth (No.44) both received exemptions.

The Tiger Woods Foundation is the event’s primary charitable beneficiary, along with the Tavistock Foundation and Bahamas Youth Foundation.