By Kent Gray
Just like Uncle Tiger, Cheyenne Woods is relishing a positive end to a challenging year.

Two days after Tiger announced his latest comeback at next month’s Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, Cheyenne is right in the mix at the $550,000 Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open after an opening 69 left her just two shots off the pace at Saadiyat Beach G.C. on Wednesday.

The three under-loop continues a late season renaissance that has seen the 27-year-old record T-15 and T-8 finishes in her last two LPGA Tour starts at the Indy Women’s in Tech Championship and New Zealand Women’s Open respectively.

It’s a great start to her final event of 2017 where the world No. 253 finished 101st in the CME Globe Rankings after 12 missed cuts in 20 LPGA starts.

“It’s been a strong finish to the year after some difficulties on the LPGA, but the last few months I’ve played some great golf, so I will take that into the off-season for sure,” she said.

Woods’ round was blemished with a bogey 6 on her final hole, the 9th, but she is poised in a share of 14th place in the Ladies European Tour event, three  shots behind South African leader Lee-Anne Pace (South Africa).

“I wasn’t happy with my finishing hole, with a bogey, but overall I gave myself a lot of chances for birdie, and made a few, so hopefully I can continue that through the weekend.

“I am looking forward to tomorrow, I definitely feel like I left a few out there on the course today, so hopefully I can get those back tomorrow and move up the leader board.

“I love coming out to Abu Dhabi as it reminds me of where I’m from in Phoenix, Arizona with all the heat and the desert. I love the heat and I adore how you guys are so welcoming.”