TaylorMade CEO: Tiger Woods Is Back 'In Great Form'
*By Michael Teich*
Tiger Woods hasn't won a major championship in more than a decade, but David Abeles, CEO of golf equipment and brand manufacturer TaylorMade, thinks the dry spell may end at the British Open this weekend.
"We turn the corner into Carnoustie, \[Scotland,\] which we think is a golf course that sets up very well for Tiger," Abeles told Cheddar on Tuesday. "He's in a great position right now to challenge."
Beginning July 19, the world's best players will tee off against each other at the British Open, the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. In addition to Woods, TaylorMade has a strong stable of players representing its brand at the eventーincluding world ranked #1 player Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, and Jason Day. Although Abeles said a win for any of these athletes would be good for business, only Woods can claim to have [boosted](https://www.pga.com/news/golf-buzz/tiger-effects-leads-highest-pga-tour-ratings-in-5-years) the PGA Tour's ratings to its highest level in five years.
Abeles also told Cheddar he expects companies Top Golf and Drive Shack will improve the overall popularity of the sport.
"It's the combination of game-ification and live experience and entertainment coming together in the format of golf," said Abeles. "That'll lead its way into more traditional golf and ultimately increase participation rates."
For the full segment, [click here.](https://cheddar.com/videos/taylormade-ceo-tiger-woods-in-great-position-to-win-british-open)
It's opening day for Major League Baseball and with the new season comes new and revamped rules aimed at accelerating game-play and boosting fan interest in the game.
The final four games of March Madness are this weekend, and Kristina Lavallee, founder and CEO of The Cake Girl, has some basketball-themed baking ideas for fans who are hosting viewing parties. The Instagram-famous baker recently got a special order from Tom Brady for his 45th birthday.
Now, the No. 5 seed Hurricanes (29-7) have a date with No. 4 seed UConn on Saturday night in Houston. Two more Final Four newbies, fifth-seeded San Diego State and No. 9 seed Florida Atlantic, will play in the other national semifinal.
Track and field banned transgender athletes from international competition Thursday, while adopting new regulations that could keep Caster Semenya and other athletes with differences in sex development from competing.
Cheddar News checks in on what to look out for on The Day Ahead. March Madness continues with the remaining Sweet 16 teams in the tournament while 'John Wick 4' makes its debut in theaters nationwide.