Tiger Woods: Where will he play in 2018?

Tiger Woods is on the verge of yet another “comeback” campaign. Where, when, and how much will the Big Cat play in 2018?

Until further notice, it’s all systems go for Tiger Woods maintaining a regular playing schedule in 2018. El Tigre (or maybe his agent) put the blogger hat on to write a reflection on 2017. In it, he talks about his rehab, prep for the Hero World Challenge, thoughts on his performance and more. An area I’ve decided to pinpoint is this excerpt on what he plans (or doesn’t yet have planned) for tournaments in 2018.

"“I would love to play a full schedule in 2018. What that entails, including back-to-back events, I don’t know. I just have to continue to work on my body and game and see where I pan out. I wish I knew where I was going to play and when I was going to play – it’s a lot easier to prep for that – but we really don’t know. This is all unchartered territory.”"

It’s unsurprising he’s mum with his schedule, as a wait-and-see approach is likely best at this point.

That doesn’t mean we can’t all speculate as to where he’ll tee it up. Based on two decades of evidence, it’s not too difficult to whittle down a possible path.

Here’s an outline of where Woods could play through the major championship season.

Getting started

SAN DIEGO, CA – JANUARY 27: Tiger Woods plays his shot from the 16th tee during the second round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines North on January 27, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /

For obvious reasons, Tiger is ineligible for the Sentry Tournament of Champions (Jan. 4-7) that kicks off non-stop PGA Tour golf through September.

That brings us to the Sony Open for the second of two tournaments in Hawaii. Woods could gain entry into this one, but he hasn’t made a stop at Waialae in well over a decade, so we’ll rule this one out, too. Same goes for the CareerBuilder Challenge. Honestly, playing these lower-rung events with more generous courses could be good for Woods, but the possibility is very much “believe it when you see it.”

A lot of prognosticators envision Woods teeing it up for the first time in the new year Jan. 25-28 at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. He’s won this event seven times, all at this course. A counter argument for Woods getting going here is the cool temperatures common at Torrey that could make life difficult for his back.

If not Torrey Pines, Woods could still play that same week on the European Tour at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. In 2017, Woods attempted to go from San Diego to Dubai with his recovering back, and it did not go well. After an MC at Torrey, Woods was forced to withdraw from Dubai and we didn’t see him again until the Hero World Challenge in December. With that said, Woods has played well in Dubai when in good health as evidenced by wins in 2006 and 2008.

Continuing the West Coast swing

SCOTTSDALE, AZ – JANUARY 28: Fans watch as Tiger Woods hits a shot during the pro-am prior to the start of the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale on January 28, 2015 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) /

Of the next three events on the West Coast swing — the Waste Management Phoenix Open, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Genesis Open — I envision Tiger playing two of them, tops.

He’s never been wild about playing pro-am events throughout his career, and with Pebble’s typically cool and windy weather, let’s rule that one out. Sure, he romped to a spectacular 12-stroke victory on the Monterey Peninsula at the 2000 U.S. Open, but those days are in the rear view.

Woods missed the cut at the Waste Management in 2015 in his first start there since 2001. Once just a fun, relatively inconsequential tournament highlighted by the famed 16th hole, the stop in Phoenix has attracted more big names as of late. Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, Hideki Matsuyama, Brooks Koepka and European Tour star Alex Noren are all committed. Could Woods join in on the party?

At the least, Woods has committed to play the Genesis Open for the first time since 2006. The tournament now benefits his foundation, so Tiger will be a host of sorts in LA.

The run up to Augusta

AUGUSTA, GA – APRIL 12: Tiger Woods of the United States walks off the third tee alongside his caddie Joe LaCava during the final round of the 2015 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2015 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

As a past champion, Woods won’t have to worry about qualifying for the Masters. Once the Florida swing begins with the Honda Classic Feb. 22-25, his preparation will be geared toward accruing another green jacket as long as his health is still in good standing. It can be redundant to say, but all of this is conditioned on Woods showing he can withstand the rigors of a consistent PGA Tour schedule.

Back to regularly scheduled programming, Woods has played at the Honda in West Palm Beach recently from 2012-14 and picked up a T2 in 2012. The WGC-Mexico Championship follows the Honda. The way I see it, if Tiger finds a way to qualify for Mexico, he’ll almost certainly forgo the Honda to prep for the free money and world rankings grab that is the WGC. If not, he could be willing to go from west to east to play at the Bear Trap.

It’s likely that he plays either of those two stops as Woods has not played the Valspar Championship in Tampa, scheduled for March 8-11. The following week is the Arnold Palmer Invitational, site of eight Woods victories. Given that he hasn’t had the opportunity to make it to Bay Hill since Arnie’s passing, it’d be nice to see him make an appearance.

Barring a rapid ascension into the world top 64 (Woods is No. 656 at the end of 2017), he’ll take March 22-25 off unless he shocks the world to play in the alternate field Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship. Don’t hold your breath on that one.

A vintage Tiger season sees him gobble up WGC starts, but it looks like he’ll be on the sidelines until he climbs back into the thick of things in the world rankings or wins an event. If he’s winless come the end of March, Tiger will likely take two weeks off before Augusta and pass up the Houston Open where he’s never played. Barring the WGC-Bridgestone that traditionally falls the week before the PGA Championship, playing the week before a major is rarely Tiger’s MO.

Spring decisions

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL – MAY 12: Tiger Woods of the USA holds the winner’s trophy after the final round of THE PLAYERS Championship at THE PLAYERS Stadium course at TPC Sawgrass on May 12, 2013 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Unless Tiger desires some extra reps, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him sit out the three weeks after the Masters. The RBC Heritage is a tight course that doesn’t seem to lend itself to Tiger’s current skillset, nor is it a traditional stop of his.

The Valero Texas Open the following week April 19-22 is not the most popular stop on Tour and the week after is the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, which is now a two-player team event. Woods has become more personable over the past few years, but buddying up with another player in tournament play doesn’t seem likely.

Woods indicated that playing in back-to-back events is an uncertainty, but if he makes it to May unscathed don’t be surprised if he plays the Wells Fargo Championship and the PLAYERS Championship in consecutive weeks. He won the Wells Fargo 2007 and has frequented often.

Woods is in the field at The PLAYERS via his win in 2013.

Two weeks off are likely after TPC Sawgrass, as Woods is not a frequent visitor to either of the Texas stops that follow.

The Memorial Tournament in Ohio at the end of May would appear to be a lock given its status two weeks before the US Open. Woods tied for 17th the last time the US Open went to Shinnecock.

This is the last US Open Woods automatically qualifies for (via his win in 2008), so no need to worry about special exemptions or earning his way in until 2019.

Summer outlook

CARNOUSTIE, UNITED KINGDOM – JULY 22: Tiger Woods of the USA hits a shot on the sixth hole during the final round of The 136th Open Championship at the Carnoustie Golf Club on July 22, 2007 in Carnoustie, Scotland. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images) /

The Travelers Championship has improved its field by the year in its slot after the US Open, but I don’t envision Woods shipping off to Connecticut. Instead, he’ll likely give it a go the following at The National in Bethesda, Maryland. The tournament benefits the Tiger Woods Foundation.

The following week is the Greenbrier Classic, which Woods has played in recent years, but if he plays in the National then it’s likely he skips the PGA Tour’s stop in West Virginia as well as the John Deere Classic to prep for the Open Championship.

It’s common for PGA Tour pros to get accustomed to links golf at the Scottish Open the week before the Open, but Tiger will likely stick to his tradition of practice and extra course scouting at Carnoustie. Woods has finished seventh and T12th at Carnoustie in 1999 and 2007, respectively.

After the Open, Tiger will almost certainly skip the Canadian Open the week to follow. If he’s eligible, he’ll tee it up at the WGC-Bridgestone where he’s won eight times, including in 2013 for his most recent win.

If he’s not in the field for Akron, Woods will have extra time to prepare for a venue new to him in Bellerive. The course in Town and Country, Missouri hasn’t hosted a major since 1992, so he could be served well to spend some more time on site to try to pick up his fifth PGA Championship. His four wins at the Masters and the PGA are the most he has at any major.

Next: Phil Mickelson: Will 2018 be the year for Lefty to win the US Open?

At this point, Tiger backers will hope he’s on his way to the FedEx Cup Playoffs, and perhaps even a trip to Paris for the Ryder Cup (as a vice captain or as a player).

Until then, let’s enjoy the ride. It’s good to have Tiger back instead of talking about his back.

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