American golfer Tiger Woods, 49, winner of 15 major titles, will also miss the Hero World Challenge in Albany, Bahamas, from December 4-7. The tournament, part of the PGA Tour, is hosted by the former world number one.
Tiger Woods, news
Tiger has not competed officially since the 2014 British Open, and his two recent surgeries this year—Achilles tendon (March) and lumbar disc (October)—have heightened doubts about his recovery and return to competition.
His compatriot Scottie Scheffler, the current world number one and defending champion, leads the list of 20 participants, five of whom are in the top 10: Scheffler (1st), Justin Thomas (5th), J. J. Spaun (7th), Robert McCintyre (9th), and Harris English (10th).
The Rules of Golf are a set of standards and procedures by which the sport of golf should be played. They are jointly written and administered by the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, the governing body of golf worldwide, except in the United States and Mexico, which are governed by the United States Golf Association. An expert committee composed of members of the R&A and the USGA oversees and refines the rules every four years. The latest revision took effect on January 1, 2016. Amendments to the Rules of Golf are generally divided into two main categories: those that improve understanding and those that reduce penalties in certain cases to ensure balance. The rulebook, entitled "Rules of Golf," is published regularly and also includes rules governing amateur status. In Italy, the Italian Golf Federation is responsible for overseeing competitions by enforcing the rules issued by the R&A, ensuring that these rules are observed by clubs, associations, and their members, and managing the resulting sporting justice, protecting their interests abroad.
The rules of golf are relatively complicated compared to other sports because they are played outdoors, close to nature and animals. Respecting the rules is a fundamental element in the game of golf, which, almost always based on self-control and the free conscience of the players, often sees distorted results, sometimes consciously, but often unconsciously or through carelessness, due to the failure of many players to comply with the rules of the game. In addition to the rules, golf adheres to a code of conduct, known as etiquette, which generally means playing the game with due respect for the golf course and other players. Etiquette is an essential component of this sport.
