Major-style course will pose stern test – Woods

Tiger Woods is expecting more of a major-style test in the second FedEx Cup play-off event as he attempts to qualify for the season-ending Tour Championship.

Dustin Johnson moved back to the top of the world rankings after winning last week’s Northern Trust by 11 shots at TPC Boston, where his amazing total of 30 under par was just one shy of the PGA Tour record.

But Woods does not envisage similar scoring feats for the BMW Championship at Olympia Fields, where just three players finished under par when it hosted the US Open in 2003.

“This golf course is set up more like a US Open than it is a regular tour event, but this is the playoffs. It’s supposed to be hard,” the 15-time major winner said.

“Last week I think might have been a little outlier because of the weather. The greens were soft and receptive, and the majority of the field went low and then DJ went absurdly low. That won’t be the case this week.

“Pars will be at a premium, putting the ball in the fairway and trying to keep the ball in the correct spots.”

Woods was the defending champion in the 2003 US Open and was tied for fifth at the halfway stage, but closing rounds of 75 and 72 dropped him into a share of 20th place, 11 shots behind winner Jim Furyk.

“I probably remember maybe a couple shots from that Open,” the 44-year-old added.

“I went on YouTube and took a look at the golf course and the tournament set-up but it looks completely different.

“There are a lot more trees, the tees have been pushed back 50 yards, 60 yards on some of the holes. It was a very different type of layout.

Woods dropped from 49th to 57th in the FedEx Cup standings following his tie for 58th at TPC Boston and needs a topfour finish at Olympia Fields to make the top 30 and qualify for the Tour Championship in Atlanta.