Column: Tiger Woods casting a shadow larger than ever
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Tiger Woods is bigger than ever in golf, and he already was plenty big when he was winning at a rate never seen.
The Honda Classic broke its attendance record last week with a confirmed 224,624 spectators over seven days. The tournament attributed the record increase to the return of Woods and the drama of a sudden-death playoff won by Justin Thomas.
It could have stopped after Woods. Not even Thomas would argue with that.
Television ratings for the Honda Classic were up 43 percent from the previous year, when Rickie Fowler won.
No surprise there, either.
Woods no longer moves the needle in golf. He is the needle.
Even when he finishes 12th.