Woods expects tough test in Playoffs opener
No matter how Tiger Woods does in the FedExCup playoffs, which start Thursday with The Barclays at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, N.J., he considers 2013 a very successful season. And why not? He has already secured five PGA Tour victories — three more than any other player — including two World Golf Championships and THE PLAYERS Championship.
“By my standards, it’s a great year,” Woods said Wednesday.
Obviously, he was disappointed not to add to his 14 major titles. But Tiger remains the front-runner for the PGA Tour Player of the Year, an award he has captured 10 times in his 17-year pro career.
“It would mean a lot,” said Woods, who last won in 2009. “That’s voted on by the players, so you get the respect and the hats-off by your peers; that’s something we don’t take lightly.”
So is winning five or more times in a season.
“One of the things I’m most proud of is winning five or more tournaments [in 10 separate years],” he said. “This is one of those years.”
Woods collected a career-best nine wins in 2000; eight in 1999 and 2006; seven in 2007; six in 2005 and 2009; and five in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2013. He hopes to add to the latter during the four-tournament FedExCup series, which culminates Sept. 19-22 with the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.
Tiger, who enters as this year’s points leader, previously won FedExCup crowns in 2007 and 2009.
“You’re basically playing for the top-five positioning going into the TOUR Championship, and then win it,” Woods said.
The Barclays was last held at Liberty National in 2009. Tiger tied for second, one stroke behind winner Heath Slocum.
However, numerous changes have been made to the 7,346-yard, par-71 course, situated along the New Jersey shoreline and offering spectacular views of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. Architects Bob Cupp and Tom Kite re-did 12 greens and 12 tees, and also re-contoured 13 fairways. Fairway bunkers were also strategically repositioned.
“The golf course is very different than the last time we played it,” said Woods, who noted the greens are much quicker. “It’s going to be a heckuva test.”
In 2009, more than two inches of rain fell on Friday, and conditions were cold and blustery. That won’t be the case this week, as the forecast calls for mostly sunny skies with temperatures in the low to mid-80s.
On Wednesday, a pro-am was held, but Woods played only nine holes and chipped and putted on the second nine due to a sore back and neck.
“It was stiff this morning after a soft bed,” he said. “Just one of those things, sleeping in hotels, and I didn’t want to push it, so just took it easy.”
Tiger begins first-round play Thursday at 8:16 a.m. ET on the 10th tee with Matt Kuchar and Brandt Snedeker. The trio is ranked first, second and third, respectively, in the current point standings.
