WGC Cadillac Championship: 3 things you need to know
The TPC Blue Monster at Doral will host the second of four World Golf Championships this season, and the field is stronger than ever with the entire top 50 in the world rankings taking part. A $9 million purse is up for grabs and the winner will also collect 550 FedEx points.
Here are three things you need to know:
Tiger's battling back spasms
Tiger Woods is usually the perennial favorite when he's in the field, but back spasms forced him to withdraw last week at the Honda Classic. Woods' ailing back will likely be the dominant storyline all weekend at Doral and will be something to monitor hole-by-hole. The defending champion decided to forego his practice round Wednesday, electing to just chip and putt to give his back another day of rest.
The Blue Monster is bigger and badder than ever after a $200 million renovation
The famous course will have a completely different look than it did last year after Donald Trump invested $250 million to make it more challenging for this year's world-class field. Several holes have been lengthened considerably, including the par-5 1st, which has been stretched nearly 80 yards. The tee at the 10th has also been pushed back 60 yards.
Every putting surface has been replaced at Doral, erasing any experience the field previously had with the stick at the venue. The 11th and 15th greens are especially tricky this year, with multiple levels to test even the best short-iron players.
Rory McIlroy is the betting favorite
Rory McIllroy (+700) is the betting favorite despite his meltdown Sunday at the Honda Classic. He had a two-shot advantage over the field when he teed off in the final round, but struggled to a 4-over 74 and eventually lost in a playoff to Russell Hensley.
"There's a few positives to take, but obviously it's going to be hard to get over because I had a great chance to win my first tournament of the season and I didn't," McIlroy said after the disappointing round.
Groups to watch on Thursday:
11:22 a.m. local time - Charl Schwartzel, Jason Dufner, Ian Poulter
11:33 a.m. local time - Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Jordan Spieth
11:44 a.m. local time - Jason Day, Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy
12:39 p.m. local time - Tiger Woods, Adam Scott, Henrik Stenson