Tiger's World Challenge Moving from SoCal to Florida


Tiger Woods' annual World Challenge is moving from Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, Calif., to Isleworth Golf & Country Club in Windermere, Fla., where Woods once lived.

The shift in venues will take place in 2014. That year the event, which features 18 of the world's top-ranked players and benefits the Tiger Woods Foundation, will be held December 1-7.

The 2013 Northwestern Mutual World Challenge at Sherwood is scheduled for December 2-8. Among the players expected to play are Graeme McDowell, Jason Dufner and 14 of the top-20 players in the world rankings.

Over the years (the first year, 1999, it was held at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz.) the tournament has raised more than $25 million for Woods' Irvine, Calif.-based foundation, which offers scholarship programs, supports learning centers with after-school curriculum to help youth focus on career opportunities, and runs summer camps.

"We've enjoyed 15 amazing years in Southern California, which helped us launch our flagship Tiger Woods Learning Center," Woods said in a statement on his website. "It serves as a lasting tribute to the local fans that have supported us year after year."

Isleworth Golf & Country Club is owned by Tavistock Group, which hosts the annual Tavistock Cup in Florida.

"We have a longstanding relationship with Tavistock Group and my friend, Joe Lewis, and I am thrilled to see it grow in support of our foundations," Woods said. "I'm looking forward to this next phase of the World Challenge and what it can bring to Florida."

"We've been looking for ways to expand our relationship with Tavistock and this is a perfect fit," Tiger Woods Foundation president and CEO Greg McLaughlin said. "The golf season has evolved significantly since our first tournament in 1999. We are very proud of the $25 million the World Challenge has raised, and we've been evaluating the best path forward to continue this work.

"We are excited to partner with Tavistock Group and honored to bring our tournament to Isleworth."

Past World Challenge winners have included McDowell, Jim Furyk, Luke Donald, Padraig Harrington, Davis Love III and Vijay Singh. Woods has won the 72-hole event five times.