Story Created:
Aug 24, 2009 at 6:29 PM EST
Story Updated:
Aug 24, 2009 at 8:00 PM EST
VERNON, N.Y. (WKTV) - Tiger Woods helped Notah Begay III's cause Monday by helping to raise more than a million dollars for his former college teammate's charity. He then helped his own cause by winning the Notah Begay III Foundation Challenge, pocketing $230,000 of the $500,000 in skins at Turning Stone Resort's Atunyote course.
Playing in Central New York for the first time, Woods, the world's top-ranked PGA Tour player for what seems like forever, found himself in a duel with Camilo Villegas, ranked No. 16 in the world and the winner of last year's inaugural Challenge.
Tied at $20,000 through seven holes, Woods took the lead by earning $60,000 with a birdie on No. 8. Neither Woods nor Villegas nor the other two players, Begay III and 2003 Masters champion Mike Weir, could win the next five holes, rolling over the dollar amount to $180,000 on the 14th. Villegas claimed that jackpot with a birdie, but Woods won the next three holes, worth $50,000 each, to take the lead for good. Begay III salvaged his round by winning the $70,000-final hole, leaving Weir, who also played last year, with zero skins and zero dollars.
Woods' appearance was a rare one at a non-PGA Tour event, but for Begay III, his friendship with Woods clearly has its benefits.
"When Notah called me, of course I'm going to do it," said Woods. "I'd do anything for him."
Begay's foundation supports wellness programs for Native American youth across the country, specifically targeting Type II Diabetes and obesity. But Woods has his own agenda wherever he goes: promoting the sport of golf, particularly among children.
"One of the things my father has always said is everyone should make a difference in someone else's life every day. We have a tremendous opportunity to help kids. There are kids coming out here today that have never been on a golf course before. That's pretty exciting, and also sad in one [aspect], too. These kids should have an opportunity to play golf anytime they want, but accessibility is very difficult in this game. Also, affordability."
Affordability was an issue for a lot of fans as ticket packages for the event started at $330. Nonetheless, the event, which was capped at 3,000 available tickets, was said to be a near-sellout.
Of course, with the question of will or when will Tiger play here now over, the new question becomes: when, exactly, will he come back? Woods was pulled away before he could answer that question to the media after accepting his trophy, but he did offer this at the end of his victory speech on the 18th green:
"It's been a great event, and I look forward to coming back. Thank you."
In the meantime, golf fans can look forward to a full week of professional action with the return of the Turning Stone Resort Championship beginning September 28th.
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