World Challenge presented by Northwestern Mutual preview

This year's World Challenge presented by Northwestern Mutual will feature 18 of the world's best players, including tournament host and defending champion Tiger Woods.

Tiger Woods defends World Challenge (Getty Images)
Fergus Bisset
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Lowdown: This year's World Challenge presented by Northwestern Mutual will feature 18 of the world's best players, including tournament host and defending champion Tiger Woods.

In this, the 14th running of the tournament, 11 members of the US Ryder Cup team will tee it up. Only Phil Mickelson is missing. In addition, 2010 US Open winner and the champion in this event in the same year, Graeme McDowell makes an appearance, together with fellow Brit Ian Poulter. Other than the 13 Ryder Cup stars, Jason Day, Rickie Fowler, Hunter Mahan, Bo Van Pelt and Nick Watney will all start.

In last year's event, Tiger Woods ended a winning drought stretching back more than 24 months. He snuck past Zach Johnson with a final round of 69 to claim the title by a single shot.

This year, Tiger comes into the event on the back of three PGA Tour victories in 2012. He'll be disappointed to not have secured a Major title this season but will be encouraged by his return to the upper-echelons of the game. He currently sits 3rd on the Official World Golf Ranking. Coming into this event last season he was outside the top-50.

Since it was first held in 2000, the proceeds from this tournament go to the Tiger Woods foundation. There's a new sponsor this year. Northwestern have taken over from Chevron, although they are "presenting" sponsors rather than "title" sponsors. Venue: Sherwood Country Club, Thousand Oaks, California Date: Nov 29 - Dec 2 Course stats: par 72, 7,027 yards Purse: $4,000,000 Winner: $1,200,000 Defending Champion: Tiger Woods (-10)

TV Coverage: Thursday 29 - Sky Sports 3 from 8pm Friday 30 - Sky Sports 3 from 8pm Saturday 1 - Sky Sports 3 from 6pm Sunday 2 - Sky Sports 3 from 6pm

Player Watch: Zach Johnson - Last year's runner-up, Johnson is one of the most consistent players on the US Tour and his precision game is ideal for this course.

Nick Watney - A winner towards the end of the season out in Malaysia and a man who's still desperate to prove he should have been at Medinah. If he could beat 11 of those who were this week, he'll go a long way towards it.

Hunter Mahan - He's another player that would love to finish 2012 on a high. Look for him to do just that.

Key hole: 15th. A beautiful par 3 of 189 yards. The tee-shot is all carry across water to a narrow green. Getting the correct club here is essential.

Where next? Nedbank Challenge - preview

Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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