Tiger Woods to tee it up at relocated Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines
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Tiger Woods on the tenth hole during the first round of The Genesis Invitational golf tournament in February 2024.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LOS ANGELES – Tiger Woods will play his first professional golf tournament in seven months when he tees it up at the Feb 13-16 Genesis Invitational, which has been relocated to Torrey Pines because of the Los Angeles wildfires.
The 15-time Major champion’s participation was in question after the death of his mother, Kultida, on Feb 4. But it was confirmed on Feb 7 that he has committed to play in the event that he hosts.
It will be Woods’ first appearance in a non-Major on the PGA Tour since he played the Genesis in February 2024, withdrawing after one round because of illness.
He went on to finish 60th at the Masters and missed the cut in the year’s other three Majors, as he struggled to recover between rounds because of back trouble and leg injuries from a 2021 car crash that continue to hamper him.
His last start was at the British Open in July.
The American had another back operation in September and teed it up alongside his 16-year-old son Charlie at the parent-child PNC Championship in Florida in December.
He has also played in the TGL, the indoor simulator league he launched with Northern Ireland star Rory McIlroy which began in January.
The 49-year-old has a long history of success on Torrey Pines’ South Course, where his eight victories include his iconic 2008 US Open triumph in a play-off against Rocco Mediate.
Two days after that success, he announced he was undergoing knee surgery, revealing he had played with a broken leg.
The Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles’ Pacific Palisades is the usual venue for the Genesis. Although the historic club was not damaged in the fires, it fell within the boundaries of the mandatory evacuation zone that forced residents to flee in January.
Organisers and the tour opted to move the event due to the impact of the fires on the local community.
In golf action, Thomas Detry posted eight birdies in a seven-under 64 on Feb 7 to power to a two-stroke lead over Americans Alex Smalley and Michael Kim midway through the Phoenix Open.
The Belgian bounced back from his only bogey of the day at the 14th with birdies at the 16th and 17th to total 12-under 130.
“I’ve actually been very comfortable on the greens this week,” Detry said. “I’ve been hitting a lot of fairways as well.”
Kim stormed into a share of second with birdies at the last four holes in a bogey-free 63, while Smalley’s 65 included five birdies in the first 11 holes before an eagle at the par-five 13th. AFP, REUTERS
