Woods to play with U.S. Army officer in pro-am

Tiger Woods

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – An American Army officer serving in Afghanistan has won the chance to play with Tiger Woods in the Dubai Desert Classic pro-am on Wednesday.

Lt. Col. Michael Rowells, who has a 9 handicap and is deployed with the 401st Army Field Support Brigade, beat 16,000 other amateur golfers in a draw ahead of the tournament’s traditional curtain raiser at the Emirates Golf Club.

Rowells said he was thrilled to be playing with the former No. 1 golfer and called it “a dream come true.”

Woods’ father, Earl, did two tours during the Vietnam War as a member of the U.S. Army Special Forces, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He named Tiger after a South Vietnamese army colleague whom he fought alongside.