Merely qualifying for the elite field of 18 at this week’s $5 million World Challenge is an achievement in itself for the players, an early Christmas present to signal a successful year. Though the four-round event hosted by five-times champion Tiger Woods is not a PGA Tour event, it offers official world ranking points and every player competing at Sherwood Country Club this week is ranked in the world’s top 35. “It’s an honour just to be here,” U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson told reporters on a sun-drenched Tuesday below the Santa Monica Mountains while preparing for Thursday’s opening round. “To make an elite field of 18 guys is a good feeling and just shows that you’ve been doing the right stuff. I am excited for the week.” Fellow American Keegan Bradley, who won his first major title at last year’s PGA Championship, agreed. “It’s always good to be back here at Sherwood and play in Tiger’s tournament,” Bradley said. “It’s a really fun week, one of the most fun weeks of the year on a fun golf course. “If you are in this tournament, you’ve had a great couple of years because you’ve got to be in the top (portion) of the world rankings, so that’s a really good sign. “This is a bonus tournament. It’s run so amazingly and to have Tiger be the host obviously makes it more special. It’s one that I look forward to every year.”
