Outlook still the same for Tiger as he begins new season
Tiger Woods makes his 2013-14 PGA TOUR debut on Thursday in the $6.1 million Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, Calif. Woods has an outstanding track record at Torrey, winning the tournament seven times, plus a U.S. Open title in 2008. Tiger has won his season-opening event seven times as a professional, six on the PGA TOUR.
Woods won last year’s Farmers Insurance Open by four strokes, becoming the first player to claim victories on the same course eight times. He equaled that feat twice more in 2013, winning at Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Fla., in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and at Firestone Country Club (South Course) in Akron, Ohio, in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
The top-ranked Woods is coming off a stellar five-win season — marking a record 10th time he has won five or more events — that earned him PGA TOUR Player of the Year honors for the 11th time. On Wednesday, he received the Jack Nicklaus Award for Player of the Year from PGA TOUR commissioner Tim Finchem.
Tiger also led the PGA TOUR in money earnings for the 10th time, with $8,553,439, to capture the Arnold Palmer Trophy. Woods now has 79 career wins, three behind all-time leader Sam Snead. Tiger ranked second in scoring average at 68.985 and 12th in putting at 1.737.
Woods took a lengthy break after finishing second in the Northwestern Mutual World Challenge in early December. Instead of hitting balls, he took shadow swings to retain feel and tempo and said he made no major changes.
Tiger owns 14 major titles but hasn’t won one since Torrey Pines. That was a big topic at Wednesday’s pre-tournament press conference.
“I view it as every year’s a big year,” said the 38-year-old Woods. “Every year I get a chance to compete and play in tournaments and major championships for as long as I decide to do it.
“Looking back from the beginning of my career to now, I know that I don’t have 20 years in my prime. But the outlook is still the same. I still prepare the same. I still work my tail off to be ready to compete as this level and beat everything that I’m playing against.”
In 51 competitive rounds on the North and South Courses of Torrey Pines, Tiger has averaged 68.61. He has posted 35 rounds in the 60s, 43 sub-par rounds, and shot over par only three times.
This week’s tournament figures to provide a tougher test due to dry, firm conditions and fluffy rough.
“It’s more like a U.S. Open,” Woods said. “The ball is bouncing as high as the flagsticks. It’s weird to see shots like that here this time of year. It’s usually rainy and cold and the ball doesn’t travel. We’ve got a helluva test in front of us this year.”
The field will alternate courses the first two days, with the final two rounds contested on the South Course. The latter measures 7,569 yards and played to a stroke average of 72.87 in the first two rounds last year, while the North Course covers 6,874 yards and played to a stroke average of 70.67.
Tiger begins opening-round play Thursday at 1:40 p.m. ET on the first tee of the South Course with FedExCup points leader Jimmy Walker and 2013 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year Jordan Spieth. On Friday, the trio starts on the 10th hole of the North Course at 12:30 p.m. ET.
