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Tiger Woods Commits to Valspar and Arnold Palmer Invitational

By Kathlene Bissell

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL - FEBRUARY 25: Tiger Woods lines up his putt on the fourth green during the final round of the Honda Classic at PGA National Resort and Spa on February 25, 2018 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL - FEBRUARY 25: Tiger Woods lines up his putt on the fourth green during the final round of the Honda Classic at PGA National Resort and Spa on February 25, 2018 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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Tiger Woods isn’t taking any chances with his preparation for the Masters, announcing on Friday that he’ll be in action at both the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Valspar Championship.

In a surprise move, Tiger Woods has committed to both the Valspar Championship and the Arnold Palmer Invitational (API). While playing in the Arnold Palmer tournament was anticipated because Woods has won there eight times, the addition of  Valspar shows Woods is truly trying to regain his tournament toughness.

After competing at the Honda Classic, he said to media, “I think because I’ve been away from it for so long, and I just need to get a feel for the rounds again and what it takes to post a score again. Every shot counts.”

He was hoping that he would do well enough at Honda to vault himself into a spot at WGC Mexico, but that did not happen. However, at the start of the final round, he had a legitimate chance to win, if he could perform.

“I’ve been away from tournament golf for so long, that I’m starting to feel the rounds,” he explained last week. “I’m starting to get into it quicker, feel the pace, feel the shots and get a better sense of it. The more I play tournament golf, the better I’ll get at it.”

Woods made the announcement about Valspar on Twitter although ESPN.com said that the Valspar heard from Woods’ agent 30 minutes before the Tweet.

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The Arnold Palmer invitational sent out a release to members of the media shortly before noon eastern announcing that Woods intended to play for the first time since 2013. According to the tournament staff, Woods played in the event for the first time in 1994, while he was still an amateur. He missed the cut then, but after he turned professional, it did not take him long to start winning. His first victory was in 2000.

“I have always enjoyed Bay Hill. The golf is right in front of you,” he told the tournament staff. “You have to think your way around the course and be able to hit a variety of shots. You know what shots are required, and then you have to execute.”

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It will be a different story at Valspar where Woods has never played. The Copperhead course has rolling terrain and plays to 7200 yards all the way back. Bay Hill plays nearly 7400 yards plus all the way back. The turf is similar as both Bay Hill and the Innisbrook Copperhead courses are overseeded with rye.

At Valspar, Woods will face Sergio Garcia, Adam Scott, Rory McIlroy and others, while at Bay Hill he will compete against Justin Rose, Rickie Fowler; Jason Day, Rory McIlroy, Hideki Matsuyama, Martin Kaymer, Bubba Watson, Xander Schauffele and others.

As Woods has continued to say, he needs reps, particularly in advance of the Masters where he is exempt until he gets a letter from the club telling him he is getting too old to play.

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“I need to keep playing tournament golf, but I need to keep building on it, keep building my body, keep building towards April. That was the goal when I first came back, and I feel like I’m right on track for that,” he explained.

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