Tiger grateful for show of support

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Tiger Woods, recovering in hospital after surgery for serious leg injuries received in a solo car smash, tweeted thanks Sunday for a show of support from fellow pro golfers.

“It is hard to explain how touching today was when I turned on the TV and saw all the red shirts,” the 15-time major champion said in a tweet.

“To every golfer and every fan, you are truly helping me get through this tough time.”

A host of golfers at the World Golf Championships Workday Championship in Bradenton, Florida — and quite a few at the LPGA Tour event in Orlando, as well — took the course for their final rounds wearing Woods’s signature Sunday colors of red and black.

The PGA Tour tweeted a picture of the maintenance staff at its Puerto Rico Open on Sunday all turned out in red and black.

Former world No. 1 Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood and Tony Finau at the WGC and Phil Mickelson at a PGA Tour Champions event were some of the players who turned out wearing Woods’s iconic color combo.

“I guess for us it’s just a gesture to let him know that we’re thinking about him and we’re rooting for him,” McIlroy said.

“Obviously, things are looking a little better today than they were on Tuesday, but he’s still got a long way to go.”

“He’s got a huge recovery ahead of him. But I think (it’s) just for everyone to show their appreciation for what he means to us out here.”

“If there was no Tiger Woods, I just think the tour and the game of golf in general would be in a worse place.”

“He’s meant a lot to us, he still does mean a lot to us and I think that was just a little way to show that.”

Collin Morikawa lifted the trophy at Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, becoming joining Woods as the only players to win both a major title and a WGC crown before turning 25.