A view of the eleventh gap at El Cardonal at Diamante, a Tiger Woods-designed course in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Courtesy Diamante
It’s uncommon for a participant who isn’t within the area to get headline billing at a PGA Tour occasion. However, like Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus earlier than him, Tiger Woods is a legend who has gotten into the golf structure enterprise. And this week, for the primary time, a Tour occasion is happening on certainly one of his programs.
On Tuesday, Woods was on the grounds of El Cardonal at Diamante, in Cabo San Lucas, website of the 2023 World Extensive Expertise Championship, and the highlight was squarely on him. However let’s shift the main focus from Woods to his work. With the match set to start on Thursday, listed here are 11 issues to learn about El Cardonal.
It’s the primary course Tiger completed
Woods had different initiatives within the works earlier than he and his crew broke floor in Cabo. However El Cardonal was the primary to welcome play, with Tiger himself hanging a ceremonial opening tee shot on the ribbon chopping in 2014.
Tiger Woods spotted at his Mexico course as Tour pros share first impressions
It’s open to the general public
Extra particularly, to visitors of the on-site Onerous Rock and Nobu accommodations, which put aside restricted tee instances for resort play.
The identify was impressed by Tiger’s alma mater
As in Stanford College, the place Woods competed as a Cardinal for 2 years, successful a college record-tying 11 tournaments, together with eight wins in 13 begins in 1996.
It was meant to be forgiving
By his personal account, when the course was being conceived, Woods had in thoughts his pro-am companions greater than he did his friends. He didn’t need it to be overly penal. True to that intent, touchdown areas at El Cardonal are vast. Naturally, the course will get more durable from the information, however at 7,452 yards, in heat and agency circumstances, with a lot of wiggle room off the tee — let’s simply say it gained’t be Oakmont. Count on the scoreboard to bleed pink.
The bunkering attracts on Tiger’s California roots
The flash-faced, paw-print bunkering at El Cardonal was influenced by programs Woods is aware of properly, most notably the George Thomas designs at Riviera and Stanford College. The agency turf and ground-game choices have roots in Tiger’s fondness for Australian Sandbelt golf.
Courtesy Diamante
There’s good potential for late-stage pyrotechnics
The ending gap is a risk-reward, downhill par-5 that’s gettable in two for each participant within the area. Don’t be stunned if the winner is set when a remaining eagle lands.
It’s half of a bigger golf growth
El Cardonal is the second course at Diamante, which first caught the eye of structure buffs in 2009, with the opening of the extremely regarded Dunes Course, by Davis Love III. As its identify suggests, the Dunes winds by a sandy coastal panorama; El Cardonal sits farther inland, at greater elevation, and presents water views from all 18 holes.
The professional store is a Tiger shrine
When you can’t beat him, costume like him. Footwear. Shirts. Caps. Windbreakers. And extra. There’s not a lot that you would be able to’t discover right here in the best way of Woods and Nike-themed merch.
Courtesy Diamante
Tacos and tequila!
The professionals gained’t be downing margaritas on the flip. However followers may discover them arduous to resit. Like many of the prime properties in Cabo, El Cardonal serves first-rate tacos and tequila cocktails, each on and off the course.
This week isn’t a one-off
Underneath its present cope with the Tour, El Cardonal is slated to host this occasion for the following 5 years.
Tiger’s not finished at Diamante
As play will get underway this week, work continues on Woods’ second venture at Diamante: The Legacy, a non-public membership with an invitation-only membership that has already drawn comparisons to Shadow Creek in Las Vegas. It’s scheduled to open within the fall of 2024.
