Tiger to return to Waste Management Phoenix Open
Tiger Woods will begin 2015 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, Jan. 29-Feb. 1, at newly renovated TPC Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Arizona, he announced Friday. Tiger also committed to play in the Farmers Insurance Open, Feb. 5-8, at Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, California.
Woods, who recently celebrated his 39th birthday, is starting his 20th year on the PGA TOUR. He has amassed 79 career victories, second only to Sam Snead (82) on the all-time list. Tiger’s 14 major titles rank second to Jack Nicklaus (18).
Coming off an injury plagued 2014 season that saw him make only nine worldwide starts — seven on the PGA TOUR — Woods is healthy and excited about playing a full schedule.
“It will be great to return to Phoenix,” he said. “The crowds are amazing and always enthusiastic, and the 16th hole is pretty unique in golf. Torrey is a very important place to me. My pop took me there when I was younger, and I have a lot of special memories of watching the TOUR play there when I was growing up.”
This marks Tiger’s first return to the Waste Management Phoenix Open since 2001. In three previous starts, he cracked the top five twice, finishing third in 1999 and tied for fifth in 2001. In 1997, he electrified the huge crowds surrounding the par-3 16th hole by making a hole-in-one.
Woods is no stranger to Torrey Pines, where he grew up playing junior golf. He has won the tournament seven times, most recently in 2013, when he posted a four-stroke victory over Brandt Snedeker. Playing with a broken leg, he also won the 2008 U.S. Open on the South Course, beating Rocco Mediate in a playoff.
