US soldier draws Tiger in Pro-am

A US army officer currently serving in Afghanistan has won the chance to play Ping K15 Irons
with Tiger Woods in the Dubai Desert Classic pro-am on Wednesday.

Lt. Col. Michael Rowells, who has a nine handicap and is serving 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 Ping K15 Irons
with the former World No. 1 golfer, calling it "a dream come true," - this especially so as

Woods' late father, Earl, was a career soldier who did two tours during the Vietnam War as a member of the US Army Special Forces.

Earl Woods, who was to rise to the rank of lieutenant colonel before his retirement, in fact named Tiger after a South Vietnamese army colleague who fought with him.