Tiger In Southern California: Great Days Indeed

Cue Taps!

Sentimental vibes have begun to overtake the lavish Sherwood Country Club grounds, as reality sets in that the final west coast World Challenge is about to be played in Tiger's home region.

Interestingly, Lee Westwood tells Mark Lamport Stokes that one of the reasons the event has drawn such an incredible field (in a year when players had so many playing options) is the beautiful Sherwood.

"Sherwood is a lovely place to come to, and California this time of the year is a great place to play," England's Lee Westwood told Reuters on Tuesday after an extended practice session in bright sunshine with his swing coach Sean Foley.

"There only being 18 players, you know you have to be at the top of the world rankings to play in the event."

Asked what he felt was the single best thing about qualifying for the elite 18-man field, Westwood replied: "I think the exclusivity really, that and Sherwood."

He'll say the same thing about Isleworth, right? Or the Bahamas in 2015, assuming the event survives.

Because as Doug Ferguson notes, the move to Florida next year may be short lived, with the Bahamas a likely stop in 2015 if a sponsor signs on to the World Challenge.

In the meantime, Ferguson uses the likelihood of this as the final LA-area appearance by Tiger to remember some of the more eclectic career moments in Woods' hometown.

Of all the memories from Tiger Woods' roots in Southern California, it's easy to overlook the time he made an appearance in the Tournament of Roses parade.

OK, so he wasn't the grand marshal. And he had just turned 18.

Woods, coming off his first U.S. Amateur title, rode on the Chiropractic Centennial Foundation float that required seven tons of flowers to build. He wasn't the only celebrity on the float on Jan. 2, 1995. Also riding were singer Lee Greenwood, Hall of Fame baseball player Joe Morgan and Olympic champion speedskater Cathy Turner.

The majestic float was toward the end of the order, trailed only by the Icelandic Horse Adventure Society and the International House of Pancakes.

For sure, there were far greater moments with a golf club in his hand.

Ferguson goes on to list some moments far more historic but so much less fun than that Rose Parade appearance, and it does make one wonder why he would move his tournament away from home. Perhaps he will clarify in Wednesday's press conference, expected to be carried live by Golf Channel at 5 pm ET.