The legendary Tiger Woods today kept his date with India as the world number one golfer not only tamed the difficult Delhi Golf Course with a nine-under score but also conquered hearts of the thousands of people who came in hordes to have a glimpse of him.
In a lucrative 18-hole exhibition match, Woods mesmerised the spectators with his imaculate sense of the game as he hardly put a foot wrong and had most greens in regulation in the DGC, which is known for its narrow fairways.
The 38-year-old Woods, who is in the capital on an invitation from Hero MotoCorp CEO and Managing Director Pawan Munjal, showed why he is considered to be the greatest golfer as he went about his business with consummate ease on a warm Tuesday morning.
The top golfer has been reportedly paid Rs 15 crore to play a round of golf with Munjal and his guests.
A visage of Woods appeared around the fairways after compere Alan Wilkins announced the golfer's arrival at the first hole. After a few practice shots and exchange of pleasentaries, Woods teed off amid a couple of thousands people who had thronged the DGC, which was supposed to be a hushed-up private event here.
Dressed in a blue tee-shirt, black trousers and white cap, Tiger started off with a wonderful shot straight down the middle, which was the hallmark of the man althrough the day as he played along with his host Munjal exclusively for the first nine holes and returned with a card of six-under.
In the next nine holes, Woods was accompanied by Rajiv Singh of DLF and Justice Vikramajit Sen of Supreme Court on the 10th and 11th holes, while leading Indian woman golfer Sharmila Nicollet played a couple of holes at the 12th and 13th, before media honchos Prannoy Roy and Aveek Sarkar joined the golf great at the DGC.
On the last three holes, it was a skins game between two teams -- Pawan Munjal-Tiger Woods vs Shiv Kapur and Anirban Lahiri, which ended on an even keel with Kapur winning the 17th hole with a birdie and Munjal and Woods pocketing the 18th hole with both hitting birdies on the last.
