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LONDON - Tiger Woods wraps up his golfing year by hosting this week's US$5.75 million ($8.49 million) Target World Challenge featuring 16 top players.
The world number one leads the chase for a first prize of US$1.35 million at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California, starting on Thursday.
Consolation for the player finishing last comes in the form of a cheque for US$170,000.
"Everyone gets a little extra spending money for Christmas," Woods said.
US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy spearheads a strong international cast including holder Luke Donald, European number one Padraig Harrington, Michael Campbell, Colin Montgomerie, Paul Casey, Jose Maria Olazabal, David Howell, Henrik Stenson and Adam Scott.
David Toms and Chris DiMarco are joined by fellow Americans Fred Couples, John Daly and twice former winner Davis Love III.
The Target World Challenge was first held in Scottsdale, Arizona in 1999 when Tom Lehman beat fellow American David Duval by three shots.
Woods, who registered eight PGA Tour victories this year including the British Open and the US PGA Championship, has a fine record in the elite event.
The 30-year-old American won it in 2001 and 2004, and has been runner-up three times.
- REUTERS
