The Blue Monster at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa awaits the PGA Tour’s best at this week’s 2013 WGC Cadillac Championship. Defending champion Justin Rose is back to defend his crown against red-hot players like Matt Kuchar (the WGC Accenture Match Play champion), Hunter Mahan (match play runner-up) and many more. In typical PGA Tour fashion, of course, there are a number of story lines alive and kicking leading into this week.
2013 WGC-Cadillac Championship Preview: Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy return to Doral
The season’s second World Golf Championship -- the WGC Cadillac Championship -- tees off Thursday amid a flurry of story lines. Here’s a rundown of this week’s event at Doral’s Blue Monster.
David Cannon
A tournament rich in history, this week’s event was once referred to as the WGC American Express Championship from 1999-2006. In 2007, the name changed to the WGC CA Championship thanks to a sponsorship change, which remained until 2010, when Cadillac took over.
Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods continue to be the hot topic on tour, especially considering McIlroy’s recent early-departure from last week’s Honda Classic. As was written by Emily Kay, McIlroy’s press conference apology showed that the young Northern Irish lad is wise beyond his years -- when it comes to handling the media, at least. While nobody is perfect and we are all human, McIlroy’s first noticeable wilting to his newfound pressure will remain at the forefront of public opinion, at least for a bit longer.
Woods, who has already won in 2013, finds himself paired with McIlroy (along with Luke Donald) once again to start a golf tournament. I can’t help but wonder why tournament officials continue to kick this dead horse, especially since neither player seems to particularly enjoy the trend. Woods looks to build on a lackluster performance at the Honda last week on a course he has limited success on in the past. Furthermore, Tiger has not won a WGC event in his last 10 attempts.
Doral’s Blue Monster lives up to its billing every year. Now firmly beneath the Donald Trump evil empire umbrella, the resort course is traditionally one of the longest -- and most difficult -- courses of the PGA Tour season. Following this week’s WGC, however, Trump apparently has huge plans to revamp the legendary track, hoping to make it a “brand new, incredible course.”
When asked why he felt the proposed renovations were still necessary despite Doral being in what many believe to be the best playing shape in 25 years, Trump stuck to his guns.
“They are saying that the course is in the best shape in 25 years. It’s a little ironic, because we blow it up on Monday,” Trump said. Whatever, jerky.
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