Two sports icons got together on a golf course for the first time Monday, as Tiger Woods and Derek Jeter played nine holes in the Bahamas.
Woods and the retired New York Yankees shortstop were joined by Jeter’s former teammate, Tino Martinez, and Olympic gold medalist Justin Rose.
Woods, who was using a new TaylorMade driver and Bridgestone ball, said “I hit it good today.”
“We’ve played today in a 20-mph plus breeze and it’s quite an unforgiving wind,” Rose said, “but the quality of Tiger’s play has been pretty good.
“If [Tiger] wanted to test his game then these conditions, given as tough as they are, is a good test. He’s clearly driven the ball very, very well.”
9 Holes with @TigerWoods today!! #heroworldchallenge @HWC2016 pic.twitter.com/KCwFgA7Dde
— Justin Rose (@JustinRose99) November 28, 2016
No scores were disclosed, but Woods was impressed with Jeter’s approach to the game. The former Yankees captain has been playing only about two years but already has his handicap down to a 10.
“He never played golf when he played baseball,” Woods told reporters after the round at Albany Golf Club, site of this week’s Hero World Challenge, where Woods is making his return to competitive golf for the first time in 15 months. “Now that he’s out of baseball, he’s addicted to playing golf. From what I had first heard from some of the guys I know who have played with him, he slashed it around. But now he’s focused. He likes to practice.”
“He asked me a bunch of technical questions about the game, and I could hear him pick the brain over there with Rosie,” Woods said. “He wants to know. He’s one of the best athletes who ever lived. He wants to learn. He asks the right questions.”
Woods talked about being a rookie in 1996, the same year as Jeter and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant.
“We all came in together. We all followed each other, watched each other,” Woods said. “We all were in the prime of our career, doing stuff, winning championships, winning majors. When I was having my run, he [Jeter] was having his run.”
“This is a blast,” Jeter said. “You’re playing with Tiger Woods. Doesn’t get any better than that.”
