With the sunny disposition that comes from living in a country where that big fiery orb in the sky actually comes out, Cheyenne Woods was still smiling despite her first taste of the shuddering realities of a Scottish summer. “It takes a bit of adjusting to playing golf with four layers on,” she said with a warming glow to a small gathering of press men who have developed the tortured rictus that comes with looking at too many sombre weather forecasts of late. “Back home it’s real summer, like 110 degrees. This is like our winter.”
Despite the somewhat alien elements, a well-happit up Woods seems to be in her element and is relishing the opportunity to compete in this week’s Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open at Dundonald Links. She’s even managing a hit about at Royal Troon today to hone her links game. “My experience of links golf is pretty limited,” added Woods, who will be at Irvine next Monday attempting to qualify for the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Turnberry. “I’ve not had any tips from Tiger about playing links golf but maybe I need to text him tonight.”
Ah yes, the Tiger. As the niece of a certain Mr Woods, it tends to take about 26 seconds for the subject of her well-kent uncle to crop up. The Woods surname was always going to be a hefty burden to bear in the golfing world but Cheyenne continues to make a name for herself in the women’s game. That’s the way it should be, of course. After joining the professional ranks in 2012, Woods ventured across the Atlantic and earned a foothold in the paid ranks by competing on the Ladies’ European Tour. A maiden victory in the RACV Masters in Australia at the end of 2014 underlined her talents and potential before she hopped back over the pond to gain a place on the lucrative LPGA Tour.
In a recent article with the Players’ Tribune, an American publication that gives professional athletes from all sports the chance to put various records straight and let off a bit of steam, Woods talked about the constant and wearisome comparisons with uncle Tiger.
“As I turned professional, I expected to be asked about him a lot because I was new to the scene,” reflected Woods yesterday as she was asked once again about that other golfing Woods. “That might have been all people knew about me. But as I’ve been out here it’s been nice to have people starting to see me as an individual rather than the link to Tiger. I think that’s what the Players’ Tribune article was about. It was about making people move on because I feel me constantly being referred to as Tiger’s niece is old news. It is always going to be there, though, so I’m never going to get mad about it.”
Watching the turbulent golfing tales of the Tiger unfold in the unforgiving glare of the spotlight has made for hands over the eyes viewing. “It is difficult to see him struggle because I grew up watching him at the top of his game every single weekend,” said Cheyenne. “When you watched highlights of Tiger Woods it is amazing to see what he was able to do and also the energy he brought to the course was different to anyone else. I miss that and I’m sure other people do also.”
Woods will focus her energies on this week’s Pro-Am contest which boasts a prize fund of around £360,000. With the Women’s British Open looming on the horizon, the new slot in the schedule for the Scottish event has helped to attract the likes of Woods and the world No 2, Lydia Ko to the delights of Ayrshire. Suzann Petterson, the world No 7, will be among the big-hitters vying for the British title at Turnberry next week and the 34-year-old Norwegian believes the abundant rigours of Dundonald can stand her in extremely good stead. She is not taking this week lightly, mind you. “If I was looking ahead to next week I’d probably be in Turnberry already but Dundonald is perfect,” said Petterson. “I can concentrate on this week and then jump in the car and be at Turnberry on Sunday night. I’ll be able to go out on Monday morning and practice while the rest are still travelling from the US. I feel I am already one step ahead. But I’m here to win this week first.”
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