Tiger Woods: Predicting his 2019 PGA TOUR schedule

4) The Honda Classic – PGA National (February 28-March 3)

If Tiger does, in fact, skip the WGC-Mexico, it will be to get a week of rest ahead of The Honda Classic. He’s played the event in his last four healthy years (2012, 2013, 2014, and 2018), and he finished tied for second in 2012 on the back of a Sunday 62.

I will hedge a bit here in that I expect Woods to possibly skip the Honda if he plays the week before in Mexico. I just believe that the proximity to home (less than an hour’s drive from Jupiter to Palm Beach Gardens) and the build for a three-week Florida swing makes this a more likely start.

Could he play both? Absolutely, and there are some gaps later in the season that could make up for it. At the end of the day, I still think we see Tiger in a home game here.

5) Arnold Palmer Invitational – Bay Hill (March 7-10)

You don’t really need me to spell this one out, I hope. Okay, here goes.

Tiger Woods and Arnold Palmer were extremely close, in many ways taking the roles of student and teacher, with Woods always willing to sit under Mr. Palmer’s learning tree. Playing the event that bear’s the King’s name is just another way to honor him.

Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club and Lodge is literally a neighbor to Isleworth, Tiger’s former residence.

Oh, and Tiger’s won this event eight times in his career, six more times than any other player in history. If he’s healthy, he’s playing here. Mark it down.

6) THE PLAYERS Championship – TPC Sawgrass (March 14-17)

The debate over whether or not this should be considered “the fifth major” rages on, but it’s not for nothing. The tournament that is literally at the home of the PGA TOUR draws one of the strongest fields, and it boasts a massive prize pool.

Do you really think that’s any type of coincidence?

Tiger Woods has won here twice before, in 2001 and 2013, along with three other top-ten finishes. We all know about one of Jack Nicklaus’s records that he’s hunting, but if Woods can return to the winner’s circle at Sawgrass, he’ll tie Jack with three wins at THE PLAYERS.

In theory, this will wrap up a potential four-to-five week stretch of golf for Tiger, but he’s simply not missing this tournament if he’s physically capable of playing it.

7) WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play – Austin C.C. (March 27-31)

There’s a ten-day gap between the end of THE PLAYERS Championship and the start of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play. Much like the WGC-Mexico, I could see a scenario in which Woods doesn’t play here, but it would have to do entirely with how his body is feeling.

On the plus side: Tiger Woods owns basically every Match Play record that matters. He leads the event with three victories, in 2003, 2004 and 2008. He still holds a record for the longest match winning streak, going 13-0 between 2003 and 2005. He also holds the two largest margins of victory in history, beating Stewart Cink 8&7 in the 2008 title match, and dispatching Stephen Ames 9&8 in the first round in 2006.

So yeah, he’s good, and we know how much Woods enjoys match play. However, this is a five-day event, with the potential for back-to-back days with two match should he advance through the bracket. If he’s coming off what could be a five-week stretch of competition, I don’t think you could blame anybody for wanting a little break. I’m not erasing any WGC, but between this and Mexico, you feel like something has to give.

Pencil this one in, but I wouldn’t book any flights to Austin just yet. Especially with what’s next.