Sport | Golf
Tiger Woods may miss Dubai Desert Classic
Tiger Woods remains unsure of returning to Dubai to defend his title at the Desert Classic next year.
- By Alaric Gomes, Senior Reporter
- Published: 23:12 August 25, 2008
- Image Credit: Gulf News archive
- Tiger Woods hits a shot during the Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates Golf Club. The US star says he may not be able to defend the title as he is recovering from injury.
Dubai: Tiger Woods remains unsure of returning to Dubai to defend his title at the Desert Classic next year.
Video: Click here to watch the unveiling of the golf course
The world's most famous golfer has been out of competition since surgery in April to clean out cartilage in his left knee after he suffered a double stress fracture in his left tibia.
He was in Dubai on Monday for the official unveiling of the designs for the exclusive residential golf community, The Tiger Woods Dubai.
Woods said: "I really don't know if I will be ready to come and defend my title here.
"All I know is that I will have to start hitting some golf balls whenever I and my doctors feel I am ready to do so."
The 32-year-old suffered the stress fracture two weeks before the US Open at Torrey Pines.
But that injury did not stop him from taking his 14th career Major title as he went 91 holes on a leg that got worse with each day, finally defeating Rocco Mediate on the 19th hole of a play-off.
The surgery also put him out of the final two majors and representing his country in the Ryder Cup, which will be held at the Valhalla Golf Course, in Kentucky, next month. Woods had earlier revealed that he had been playing for at least 10 months with the torn ligament in his left knee.
Hank Haney, his swing coach, has maintained time and again that his student would need at least eight months to get back on the course.
"At this moment I really do not know how the healing is going on, so I really can't tell you whether I will be back to defend my title here," said Woods.
Tournament win
The golfer underlined his status as the best player with a mesmerising final round performance to win the Dubai Desert Classic last year, producing a final round of 65 to take the title by a shot from Martin Kaymer.
Woods showed no strain on Monday as he walked in to a packed press conference hall at The Westin.
The golfer also toured the site for his signature golf course yesterday with Khalid Al Malek, who is Chief Executive Officer of Tatweer and Abdullah Al Gurg, the Project Director for The Tiger Woods Dubai.
"First it was easier as everything was planned just ahead and I followed my schedule. But this time I am really not sure whether I will recover completely to be fit to come and play here," said Woods.
The American currently sits third on the all-time PGA Tour list with 65 victories and 14 Major titles.
He remains just four majors short of the record 18 wins held by Jack Nicklaus.
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