Golf: Tiger finishes Genesis under par, plans to play all four Majors
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The Genesis marked the first competitive event Tiger Woods has played since the Open Championship last July.
PHOTO: AFP
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LOS ANGELES – Tiger Woods shot a two-over 73 in his final round at the Genesis Invitational on Sunday, closing the tournament at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles at one-under 283.
The Genesis, where Woods serves as the tournament host, marked his first competitive event since last July’s British Open and his first official, non-Major event since he won the Zozo Championship in October 2019.
In a post-round interview on CBS broadcast, he said he was not sure when he would play competitively again, emphasising his focus on the four Major championships.
“Competitively? I don’t know,” Woods, 47, said. “My goal each and every year from here going forward is to play in all the Majors.
“I’m not gonna play too much more than that. My body and my leg and my back just won’t allow me to play much more than that any more.
“So that was my goal last year and I was able to play three of the four. This year, hopefully I can play all four this year.
“That’s gonna be my schedule going forward because of all the limitations I have.”
The answer casts doubt on the possibility that Woods will make another stop at a non-Major PGA Tour event, like The Players Championship in early March, before the April 6-9 Masters.
Fourteen months after a gruesome single-car accident in February 2021
But at the PGA Championship the next month, he withdrew after the third round, unable to summon the strength to finish the event.
He declined to play in the US Open in June before returning at the British Open.
If all goes according to plan, Woods will take part in the May 18-21 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club, the June 15-18 US Open at the Los Angeles Country Club and the British Open from July 20 to 23 at Royal Liverpool.
He last played the US Open in 2020 and last made the cut in 2019.
As for Sunday, he carded five bogeys and three birdies. His last highlight shot came at the par-three 16th, where he landed his tee shot inside six feet of the pin to set up a birdie.
Woods’ strength over the week was his iron and wedge play. With the fourth round still in progress, he ranked 23rd in the field in strokes gained: approach the green (2.338).
“It’s progress, but I didn’t win,” said the 15-time Major champion. “It certainly was a little bit more difficult than I probably let on.
“My team has been fantastic in getting my body recovered day to day and getting me ready to play each and every day.
“That’s the hard part that I can’t simulate at home. Even if I played four days at home, it’s not the same as adrenaline... the intensity, just the focus that it takes to play at this level.”
His final-round 73 followed scores of 69, 74 and 67 on the first three days. AFP, REUTERS
