Tiger Woods was in his prime when British golfer David Howell played alongside the American at the Dubai Desert Classic in 2004. The players were joined by Joakim Haeggman in the penultimate group on the final day of play as the trio attempted to chase down Paul McGinley and Mark O’Meara at the top of the leaderboard.
Howell was one of the best players in Britain at the time and was tipped to enjoy a spell as England’s best golfer for an extended period. He played in the Ryder Cup in 2004 and 2006 and eventually broke into the top 10 in the golf world rankings. But, incredibly, he initially refused to watch Woods swing his clubs at the Emirates Golf Club as he thought it would be detrimental to his own performance.
Explaining the decision in a piece he wrote for Worldwide Golf eight years ago, the 49-year-old stated: “The excitement I could handle, intimidation I didn’t need so much. I just needed a plan, and fast.
“So I teed it up and received my introduction as a former winner of the Dubai Desert Classic, which is always a good start to any day, then managed to find the first fairway with my drive.
“It was then that my plan suddenly came to me. Whilst thousands were straining their necks to get a view of Tiger, it dawned on me to do the exact opposite.
“So very discreetly I turned away from the legend standing just a few feet away from me and decided there and then that I just wouldn’t watch him swing.
“I wouldn’t be rude. I would of course take an interest as to where his ball would go, but to watch him swing with all that power and grace I decided would do me no favours at all.
“I soon saw Tiger striding into the rough on the right-hand side of the fairway, whilst I stood in prime position in the middle. One up to me I thought.
“And so it continued. With the best view in the house of Tiger in action, I didn’t watch a single swing until the 10th.”
Howell stayed above Woods in the pecking order for the entire round and eventually finished ahead of the 15-time Masters champion in third-place overall, with O’Meara claiming victory.
Despite getting the better of his former rival on that day, Howell added: “Tiger was way ahead of everyone in those days with his ball striking ability.
“The top lads have caught him up since then but it will forever stick in my mind just how good he was during those pre-injury years.”
