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Woods commits to Wyndham Championship
He adds name to field, but will 'assess' his position to play over the next few days
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August 14, 2015
By Brian Wacker, PGATOUR.COM
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Tiger Woods has two top-25 finishes in nine starts this season on the PGA TOUR. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Tiger Woods has committed to play in next week’s Wyndham Championship, his agent Mark Steinberg said on Friday. But even though Woods has entered the tournament, he will "assess" things over the next few days, according to Steinberg.
It would mark the first time Woods has played in the event.
Woods was 1 over on his round and 4 over overall when the PGA Championship was suspended Friday at Whistling Straits. He is two shots outside the cut line with five holes to play. The second round will resume at 7 a.m. local time Saturday.
At 186th in the FedExCup standings, Woods is in danger of missing the Playoffs for a second straight year. Only the top 125 following the Wyndham Championship will qualify.
“We’re obviously excited that Tiger has entered our field,” said Mark Brazil, the Wyndham Championship tournament director. “He still needs to finish his second round and see where he ends up.
"We have been in touch with Tiger’s agent all week and understand that Tiger has entered the field to keep his options open. We’re hopeful that he will tee it up at the Wyndham next week."
Earlier Friday, the tournament announced that Martin Kaymer and Adam Scott will play the tournament. Among the players committed are six former world No. 1 players, 16 major champions and eight former winners of the Wyndham Championship.
"It should be a world-class tournament at Sedgefield next week," Brazil said.
In nine starts this season, Woods has made the cut just five times and has just two finishes in the top 25. His best result was a tie for 17th at the Masters.
Former world No. 1 David Duval said on the Golf Channel that he likes Woods' decision. He thinks Sedgefield Country Club -- a course where Duval took his driver out of the bag -- "might suit him well and could prove to be a key turning point in what he is trying to do right now.
"I like what it says with how he thinks he is progressing and what he is trying to accomplish," Duval said.
Woods’ year began with a missed cut in Phoenix, where he struggled mightily with his short game and shot an 82 in the second round.
A week later in San Diego, his back tightened up during a fog delay. He withdrew during the opening round. A week later, he announced he was taking a break from golf until his game was “tournament ready.”
Woods returned at Augusta National and his short game looked sharp, but he broke par just twice.
Over his next three tournaments he was a combined 30 over and failed to break 80 twice, including at the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay, where he missed the cut.
In his next start at The Greenbrier Classic, Woods shot three rounds in the 60s for the first time all year and tied for 32nd but the momentum was short-lived. He again missed the cut at The Open Championship at St. Andrews, marking the first time in his career that he had missed the cut in consecutive majors.
In Woods’ last start prior to the PGA Championship at the Quicken Loans National, he put himself in contention for the first time in two years with rounds of 68-66 over the first two days. However, he faded in the third round by shooting 74. He finished in a tie for 18th.
This week at Whistling Straits, Woods talked about trying to be consistent but has been anything but. He has struggled off the tee and on the greens.
Through 31 holes, Woods has hit just 11 of 25 fairways, which ranks 138th in the field, and is 123rd in strokes gained-putting.
Following a 75 on Thursday, Woods seemed to be resigned to his season being over. With the commitment to the Wyndham Championship, however, he’ll get to play at least two more rounds if not more, if he chooses to play.
“There's plenty of golf to be played globally,” he said Thursday. “So the season's, it is what it is, but calendar year I still have a lot of golf left.”
Woods is also scheduled to play in the 2015-16 PGA TOUR season opener, the Frys.com Open Oct. 15-18, and the Bridgestone America’s Golf Cup in Mexico Oct. 21-25 as well as his Hero World Challenge in December. -
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