HYPE WON’T DISTRACT TIGER

TIGER WOODS will today face the biggest test of his comeback at one of his favourite hunting grounds as he contests his first full PGA Tour event since 2015. Woods has won the Farmers Insurance Open, formerly known as the Buick Invitational, seven times and also lifted the last of his 14 major titles — the 2008 US Open — at tournament venue Torrey Pines. The former world No1’s last PGA Tour appearance was a tie for tenth in the Wyndham Championship in August 2015, after which he twice had surgery on a chronic back injury. The 41-year-old returned to action in early December at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, where he finished 15th in the 17-man field. ‘I’m looking forward to getting out and competing with those guys,’ said Woods. ‘I’ve missed competing. I’m coming back to one of my favourite venues and looking forward to it.’ Woods admits playing four of the next five weeks — including a trip to the Dubai Desert Classic — is a big ask, but does not feel he has anything to prove. ‘I know either way I’ll be a part of golf history with what I’ve done,’ he added. ‘I need to have my health at a state where I can prepare and get my game ready to play at an elite level. When I feel that way, I know I can shoot scores and win golf tournaments.’ Woods has been given a glamorous grouping not usually afforded the world’s 663rd-ranked golfer, teeing off with world No1 Jason Day and No3 Dustin Johnson for the first two rounds. With chilly weather and the rough up, making the halfway cut is the most realistic goal but Woods, at least publicly, is setting his sights far higher on a course where he has enjoyed such success. ‘That was the idea in starting here, a place where I have so many memories and the goal remains to win,’ said Woods. He may be harking after the past, but Woods did take a step into the future yesterday, announcing he would play with TaylorMade clubs this year. And it is an indication of the influence Woods still possesses that during the festive period he got the call to play golf with his fifth American President. Donald Trump, 70, joins a list that includes George Bush and his son George W Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama — even if Trump’s listed three handicap is egging it. ‘I was surprised how hard he hits the ball given his age,’ said Tiger. ‘He certainly has an extraordinary amount of energy.’ Asked if Trump would break 80 on a classic American course like Riviera, where Woods will host the Genesis Open next month, he said: ‘He’d have to hole a lot of putts.’ The same applies to Woods if he wants to keep up with Day and Johnson. You cannot help but wish him well.