With Tiger Woods’ back problems keeping him from playing, the 14-time major champion has thrown himself into his TGR Design venture.
Woods announced on Tuesday that his first public-access course will be built at Big Cedar Lodge in Missouri, owned by founder and CEO of Bass Pro Shops, Johnny Morris.
The resort already features courses designed by Tom Fazio, over which the Champions Tour’s Legends of the Game event is held, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Ben Crenshaw.
Woods Championship course will be named Payne’s Valley, after the late Payne Stewart, a close friend of both Woods and Morris, and will feature a par-3 19th hole for play-offs – and at the grand unveiling, Woods had a couple of swings on it:
.@TigerWoods took a few swings during his course announcement at @BassProLegends. pic.twitter.com/loFG3p7WeS
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) April 18, 2017
After hitting the shots, Woods said: “As you saw, the first shot was crap – I hit it in the water – then the second shot I stiffed it.
“The back is progressing. I have good days and bad days. I’ve had three back operations and that’s just kind of the nature of the business, unfortunately. That’s all I can say.”
(UPDATE: Later in the week, Woods went under the knife for a fourth back surgery.)
On his partnership with Morris, Woods added: “Johnny’s incredible passion for connecting people of all ages and walks of life to nature is truly inspiring. Together we’re tremendously excited to create a publicly accessible world-class golf experience.”
TGR Design now has a number of projects in varying stages of development. As well as the Payne Course at Big Cedar Lodge, there’s El Cardonal at Diamante in Mexico (opened 2014), the Oasis Short Course on the same resort (opened 2016), Bluejack National in Texas (opened 2016), Jack’s Bay in the Bahamas, Trump World Golf Club in Dubai (both opening 2018), and South Shore in Chicago (opening 2020).
Woods will also oversee the overhaul of Pacific Links National in China, while the another 18-hole course is planned for Diamante.
Payne’s Valley is expected to open in 2019. You can watch the full video of Woods’ announcement here:
Tiger Woods discusses designing new 18-hole public course at Big Cedar Lodge. https://t.co/xUpzbAgGkQ
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) April 18, 2017
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Alex Perry
