WHY TIGER WOODS DOES NOT PLAY IN THE SONY OPEN

Actually, I don't know why Tiger Woods does not play in the Sony Open, which begins today at the Waialae Golf Course in Honolulu.  However, I can speculate.

It was 1990 and I was invited to play at the Old Course of St. Andrews.  I was walking around the Royal and Ancient clubhouse and noticed a card where Tiger Woods and his father were seeking a host for his presence at St. Andrews for The Open that year.  Host probably meant taking care of their expenses in Scotland.  He would have been around 15-years old, almost getting famous, but was six years away from turning pro.  I assume someone honored their request.

In Honolulu, the Sony Open was called the Hawaiian Open in 1990.  The next year it became the United Hawaiian Open, then for seven years into 1998 the United Airlines Hawaiian Open.  There was a sponsor change in 1999, and this tournament began to be called the Sony Open in Hawaii.

My guess is that Tiger and his father sent a similar request in the circa 1990 period, and no one stepped forward to accommodate them.  He took it as an insult and has never played in this tournament.  He has never indicated anything like this, and probably never will.

This golf tournament sort of began in 1928, and in 1948 Cary Middlecoff was the victor, with a prize of $2,000.  The tournament officially began in 1965, and was won by Gay Brewer, earning $9,000.  Hawaiian Ted Makalena won in 1966, getting $8,500.  Local pro David Ishii prevailed in 1990, where the prize was up to $180,000 for first place.  2013 was the first year to exceed $1 million, won by Russell Henley.

Justin Thomas, who is here this year, holds most of the records, in 2017:  253 and 18-hole record of  59.

The course is a par 70 and 7,044 yards long.  The total prize fund this year is $6.4 million.  Last year's champ was Patton Kizzire, who returned to defend his title.

You remember, of course, last year:

HONOLULU — Charles Howell III was eating breakfast in his hotel when the restaurant at the Kahala started buzzing.

Everyone had their phones. Everyone received the same push alert.

“BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.”

“All the alarms went off at the same time,” Howell said. “It got everyone’s attention. I didn’t know what to do. We all stared at each other. It kind of shows you the world we live in now. Your whole life can change in a second.”

Here are two of my blog postings:

•  BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII.  SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER.  THIS IS NOT A DRILL. (January 13, 2018)
• NORTH KOREAN MISSILE HEADING FOR JAPAN...TAKE SHELTER (January 16, 2018)

However, can't end with that scare, so let me finish with a funny incident dealing with St. Andrews:

     THE BEST PLACE IN THE WORLD:  St. Andrews Golf Course

Even if you don't care about golf, you must click on the above link...it will make your day.  Tadashi Matsunaga, first on the left, did go on to become president of Nokodai and Grant Burgess is the only Caucasian in the group:

Well, I'm off for Day One of the Sony Open.  Watch for me on The Golf Channel (7-10:30PM EST).  I'll be in red, with an orange vest and tan wide-brimmed hat.

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