Tiger Woods: Examining his chances to win at Torrey Pines

Tiger Woods begins his 2020 season at a familiar tournament the Farmers Insurance Open where he has a special opportunity to set the PGA Tour wins record which has been held by Sam Snead at 82 wins for the past 55 years.

The PGA Tour heads to Torrey Pines this week. It’s a course that Tiger Woods has had plenty of success at throughout his career. Today, I wanted to take a look at both sides of the coin when it comes to him winning once again at Torrey. Here are some insights as to why he will win this week… or why he won’t.

The Case For Tiger Winning:

Recent Form

The best way to predict future performance is to look to the past, and despite having not competed in over a month Tiger Woods comes into the Farmers Insurance Open in as good a form as any.

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With his last three competitive appearances being a win at the Zozo Championship which featured 31 of the top 50 in the world. A fourth-place finish at his Hero World Challenge and then a dominant 3-0-0 performance in a tightly contested Presidents Cup down under in Australia.

The five-week layover historically speaking has not been an issue for Woods as recently dating back to his win at the Zozo Championship, where he had not played a competitive round since being eliminated from the FedEx Cup playoffs at the BMW Championship 10 weeks prior.

Tiger comes into the event well-rested and in good form, which always makes him a threat in any tournament.

Success at Torrey Pines

What do Augusta National, Firestone Golf Club and Torrey Pines all have in common? They are courses where Tiger has enjoyed phenomenal success. With seven Farmers Insurance Open wins, one legendary one-legged US open victory in 2008, and a host of junior tournament victories it is safe to say that he feels at home at this site.

The California native joked about his history at the course when 26-year-old Jordan Speith asked how long he had been coming to this golf course, “10 years longer than you’ve been alive.”

This is a place at which Tiger is comfortable and such a strong resume here shows he can not go underestimated any given week at Torrey Pines.

Strong Performance Off-The-Tee

At a course known for thick rough and narrow fairways, accuracy off-the-tee is always placed at a premium around Torrey Pines.

This club of which has been his most inconsistent throughout his career has been one of his best in the bag recently. Tiger is swinging with as much confidence with it as in recent memory, particularly evidenced in the Zozo Championship where he was striping the ball, despite the narrow tree-lined fairways down the stretch when he needed it most on route to a three-shot win.

For Tiger who was the Tour’s top player in strokes gained approach-to-green in 2019, giving himself the opportunity to put the ball in position off the tee to be able to play aggressively into the greens to make birdies will ultimately determine for himself and the field who is contending, which time and time again we have seen is all it takes for Tiger Woods to get the job done.

The Case Against Tiger Winning:

The Field

This Farmers Insurance Open boasts a loaded field of players who have the potential to catch fire and shoot competitive scores. With 22 of the top 60 players in the world, it only takes one out of this talented pack to separate themselves.

World number two Rory McIlroy comes to the tournament in as good of form as any with two wins in his last seven events, six of which were top 10’s.

Jon Rahm at number three in the world also comes into the event in great form with a top 10 at his season opener at the Tournament of Champions at two wins in his last three events before including the European Tour Championship in Dubai.

Defending champ Justin Rose in addition to perennial contenders Patrick Reed, Rickie Fowler, Xander Schauffele, Tony Finau, and Hideki Matsuyama are a shortlist of top-ranked competitors on a strong form of which Tiger must contend with earning his 83rd PGA Tour victory to break his tie with Sam Snead for most PGA Tour wins of all time.

Physical State

Unfortunately, what is always going to be the case with Tiger given his recent back surgery, pain and stiffness are a reality that can flare up on any given day particularly in colder weather as the temperatures will get as low as 50 degrees during the week.

Leading into the tournament the now 44-year old Woods said he has “more bad days than good days.” When it comes to the health of his back which kept him out of the Saturday portion of the competition at the Presidents Cup

Next. Slow Play and Pace of Play changes to be made on both Tours. dark

To predict a victory for Tiger Woods basically means predicting good health in addition to strong play which unfortunately is no sure thing. However his recent form and having taken some time off for his body to heal we can only hope as golf fans will lead to positive results at the beginning of his 2020 season.

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