DUBAI // There were two sides of Cheyenne Woods on display in Dubai on Thursday.
The first surfaced at Emirates Golf Club, when the American lived up to her star billing with a solid second round at the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters.
By the time she had concluded her day’s work – a 3-under 69 that left her trailing leader Shanshan Feng by six shots – Woods was locked in a tie for seventh, yet was content with where she sits going into the weekend.
Asfor whether Feng’s advantage would summon an aggressive streak, Woods conceded that she did not necessarily possess one. “No, not really,” she said. “Aggressive when I need to be. Not all the time. Just smart-aggressive, I guess.”
That should not be mistaken for an instinctive timidity, though. After Woods hit a few balls on the range after the round, she spent the early afternoon fuelling the adrenalin junkie within.
A decade after Tiger Woods hit a series of memorable shots off the helipad at the Burj Al Arab, the 14-time major winner’s niece was getting in on the act, too.
Golf in Dubai, the tournament sponsors, wanted to mark the publicity stunt that really put the event on the map, and having a high-profile Woods family member in town provided the ideal opportunity. Cheyenne gratefully obliged.
“It’s a little surreal to know that Tiger was here 10 years ago in the same spot,” said Woods once at the top.
“I probably didn’t imagine that. I was 14 years old with no idea what I was doing, in middle school. I’m really pleased to be here now. It’s beautiful.”
Beautiful would be one way of describing it. At 210 metres above sea level, and with the afternoon wind known to whip around the Arabian Gulf, Woods would have been forgiven for being a little reticent.
If she was, her poker face is pretty convincing.
“I’ll be good,” she said. “I love stuff like that. I was telling my caddie how I wish I could skydive off it, or jump off it. But golf shots will still be fun.”
Thankfully she has a golf tournament to keep her occupied. Woods insisted that Feng’s form around the Majlis means she has to keep her feet on the ground, so to speak; that a game plan that has worked well in her debut in Dubai does not require some additional lift-off.
Anyway, Woods can save that voracity for when she puts the clubs away. She is planning a return visit, where skiing and skydiving is part of the itinerary.
Remember, Skydive Dubai’s headquarters are only a short iron shot from the Burj.
“Really?” she said, eagerly. “Then sign me up.”
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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