GOLF NEWS - At face value both have much to gain from these encouraging scenarios.
This week Bjorn leads Europe against Asia in the appropriately named EurAsia Cup and on 25 January Woods will tee it up at Torrey Pines near San Diego. They are separate narratives but share in common the fact that they both carry elements of risk.
Woods has won seven tour titles and a US Open at the Californian venue for the Farmers Insurance Open. In his current circumstances, though, he has given himself the toughest of tests for his first genuinely competitive tournament for a year.
Yes, there were encouraging signs when he played his own limited field event in the Bahamas last month, but competing at Torrey Pines against a full PGA Tour field is a different proposition.
The North and South courses are severe tests, especially the latter which measures more than 7,600 yards. Since winning there in 2013, Woods' record is awful - finishing 80th, withdrawing through injury and last year missing the cut.
