Tiger Woods commits to THE NORTHERN TRUST, BMW Championship

Tiger Woods has committed to the opening two FedExCup Playoff events, starting with THE NORTHERN TRUST at Liberty National in New Jersey next week.

The 81-time PGA TOUR winner and two-time FedExCup champion announced via his social media his intention to also tee it up at the BMW Championship at Medinah Country Club Aug. 15-18 as he tries to play his way into the TOUR Championship.

“Ready to begin the FedExCup playoffs starting with @TheNTGolf and then the @BMWChamps. Hope to see you there,” he tweeted Wednesday.

Woods is the defending champion at East Lake, but currently sits 27th in the FedExCup standings and is at risk of not being in the top 30 for Atlanta.

With just three Playoff events this season, the top 125 players will play THE NORTHERN TRUST before the top 70 advance to the BMW Championship. The final 30 players will move on to the TOUR Championship.

Woods will be confident in making his run towards an unprecedented third FedExCup, given his history at the venues. He was runner up at THE NORTHERN TRUST both times it was previously held at Liberty National (2009, 2013).

In 2009, it took a huge upset – including a clutch 20-foot par save on the 72nd hole – from Heath Slocum to deny him the trophy. In 2013, Woods was seemingly heading for a victory on Sunday when his back seized up and sent him to the ground in agony. Despite the clear and obvious pain, Woods managed to battle his way to having a putt from the fringe on the 72nd hole to force a playoff, but his ball stopped a revolution short of going in. It was the start of serious back injuries for Woods that would result in multiple surgeries.

Since winning the Masters this past April, Woods has been on a limited schedule as he protects his body. THE NORTHERN TRUST will be just his fifth start since his vintage display at Augusta National. Woods was last seen at The Open Championship in Northern Ireland, where he missed the cut.

Should Woods play in back-to-back weeks, it will be the first time since the 43-year-old has done so since the Genesis Open and the World Golf Championships – Mexico Championship in February.

If he makes it all the way back to East Lake, it will be the first time he’s put his fused back through three straight weeks since last year’s Playoffs. But given he’s a two-time winner and four-time runner up at the course, even a tired Woods can’t be discounted.

His record at Medinah is also pretty decent. Woods won the PGA Championship there in 1999 and 2006.