Golfs former world number one, Tiger Woods, was in Mexico on Tuesday (20 October) to promote the sport and lead a clinic for golf enthusiasts in the capital, calling for the regions youth to get behind the sport. Woods is in the Mexican capital to promote the Americas Golf Cup to be held from 22-25 October.
In football-obsessed Latin America, golf has traditionally taken a back step in popular sports. But in the last decade, golf talent has emerged from the region.
Argentinas Angel Cabrera won the US Open in 2007 and the Masters two years later. And Mexican Lorena Ochoa, who retired in 2010, held the world number one position in womens golf for 157 weeks. Woods called for more accessibility to golf in Mexico and across Latin America to inject some new blood into the sport.
Well I think that its obviously this country and many Latin American countries, football is the dominant sport and I think a lot of that is not only for tradition but accessibility. We need to make golf affordable and accessible and a lot of times its not. Kids arent being introduced into the game of golf at early ages as they are to football and any other sports and so consequently we dont have as many players coming out of these regions, he said.
Thirty-nine-year-old Wood has won 14 majors but is currently inactive due to back surgery. But on the crux of turning 40, Woods outlined his priorities for a post-injury golfing comeback.
Over 20 years I think Ive compiled a pretty good record and my records not done yet. Whats important to me right now is getting my body fit and ready for my forties so next time I do play on tour I will be 40, he added.
After the news conference, Woods headed to Mexico Citys iconic Chapultepec Park where he helped children with their swing. Woods hopes to return to competition at the beginning of 2016. He holds the record of 683 weeks as number one in the world.
