Tiger Woods isn’t doing many firsts in professional golf these days, but he did this week. This marks the first PGA Tour event to be held on a Woods design (with senior designer associate Beau Welling).
El Cardonal at Diamante is a par 72 course that measures 7,363 yards. It has dramatic views of Pacific Ocean, mature vegetation, and native dunes. The course ranks T-33 in Golfweek’s Best Mexico Caribbean Atlantic Islands and Central America and hosts the World Wide Technology Championship this week.
The wind is the main defense of the course. Tiger stressed shot-making, strategic decision-making, and tactical thinking. The variety of holes, such as the par-5 hole 14 which has an alternate fairway and a challenging green complex, along with the diverse shot values, provide players with a test that will make them think critically about how they approach the course. The course is designed to encourage players to show their creativity and versatility, which is in line with Tiger Woods’ approach to golf and what made him a legend.
Woods stated on the website that he designed the golf strategy so that golfers would have to think and make decisions. “There will be multiple ways to play each hole. The angle of your approach will be crucial and dictate what type of shot you should use. “I love this type of golf.”
The course offers a stunning panorama of dunes and fairways that blend seamlessly with the natural vegetation. What the pros think about Tiger’s very first design, and the first PGA Tour course.
TW El Cardonal Design Course at Diamante:
I’m not as obsessed with course design as Zac Blair or others, so this is just a basic overview. -I always find it funny that famous players that became course designers end up designing courses that fit their… pic.twitter.com/GKpm09c5Pa
— Michael S. Kim (@Mike_kim714) November 1, 2023
