Tiger Woods said that "he would compete in the European Tour's Dubai Desert Classic next month as he charts his comeback from injury." Woods said, "I've always enjoyed playing in Dubai and it’s fantastic to see how the city has grown phenomenally from when I first started playing there." Woods, "sidelined by back pain for the past 15 months, will launch his official comeback" at the Jan. 26-29 Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in southern California, the PGA Tour event announced on Wednesday. The 41-year-old American has not played an official money event since Aug. '15 (REUTERS, 1/5).
Trade unionists in Bermuda are "threatening to derail the America's Cup as a battle rages over the work status of a controversial London-born pastor." Reverend Nicholas Tweed has had his work permit refused on the tiny British territory "because it was incomplete and contained inaccuracies." Bermuda Industrial Union President Chris Furbert told a rally of several hundred people supporting Reverend Tweed on Wednesday that the America's Cup, due to be held in May and June, "would be targeted if the work permit was not renewed" (STUFF, 1/5).
Fans around Australia have been flocking to the Big Bash League this season, with eight sold out matches already. Of the 16 matches played so far this year, eight matches have been sold out, with the Brisbane Heat, Adelaide Strikers, Perth Scorchers, Sydney Thunder, and Hobart Hurricanes all achieving capacity crowds. In addition to the sold out matches, a crowd of more than 70,000 watched the first Melbourne derby between the Stars and Renegades on Jan. 1 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (BBL).
South Africa and Australia will contest a four-test series "for the first time in almost 50 years when they clash" in March and April '18, Cricket South Africa announced on Wednesday. Australia will tour South Africa "seeking revenge" for its 2-1 home series loss in November and will play four tests for the first time since being "humbled" 4-0 on South Africa soil in the '69-70 season. The first test will be played in Durban (March 1-5), followed by Port Elizabeth (March 9-13), Cape Town (March 22-26) and Johannesburg (March 30-April 3) (REUTERS, 1/4).
Tour de France organizer Amaury Sport Organisation announced Thursday it “acquired the organizing firm of the Frankfurt Grand Prix.” The German company becomes a “wholly-owned subsidiary of ASO, which will continue to rely on the current organizing team to deliver the event.” After choosing Düsseldorf for the Grand Départ of the 2017 Tour de France and the relaunch of the Tour of Germany in ’18, ASO “continues to develop cycling in Germany” (L’ÉQUIPE, 1/5).
