It’s once again tee time for Tiger at Torrey Pines
SAN DIEGO — With the Pacific Ocean behind him, Tiger Woods drew back his driver and sent his ball soaring across the blue sky Wednesday at Torrey Pines.
Watching from 50 yards away was Jay Monahan, the new commissioner of the PGA Tour.
“That’s a nice sight, isn’t it?” Monahan said.
He wasn’t referring to the sun shining down on the rugged coastline. His eyes were fixed on Woods, in perfect balance on the 17th tee of the North Course.
This will be the ninth time that Woods returns to the PGA Tour following a lengthy layoff, and this one brings as much curiosity as excitement at the Farmers Insurance Open.
Not even Woods knows what to expect.
“We all know I haven’t played a full schedule in a very long time, so this is an unknown,” Woods said. “I’ve been away from it for so long. I’ve played one tournament in that 15-month span and I haven’t played a full-field event. I haven’t got into the rhythm of playing weeks on end in a season.”
Woods last played a PGA Tour event at the Wyndham Championship in August 2015 in a last-minute effort to qualify for the tour’s postseason. He tied for 10th, and then had two more back surgeries a few months apart that sent him to the sidelines for an entire season.
He returned at his Hero World Challenge in early December, an unofficial event with an 18-man field and no cut. Woods finished 15th, though it was considered a success because of his 24 birdies, no issues with his back and no stress on his swing.
This one counts, and it won’t be long before Woods is measured against the rest of the field.
He will play the opening two rounds — today and Friday — with Jason Day (No. 1 in the world) and Dustin Johnson (PGA Tour player of the year). Both are among the biggest hitters in golf, playing a style that Woods once had to dominate the sport.
That brought the biggest smile to his face.
“That’s two guys that are the best in the world and they’re up there and playing some unbelievable golf and they’re good friends of mine,” Woods said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better pairing. … Those guys will bomb it out there. That’s fine. I’ll just play my game and the name of the game is low score. It’s not a long-drive contest.”
Woods has never waited this long to return to a full field of PGA Tour competition. This is twice as long as he sat out after reconstructive surgery on his left knee following his 2008 U.S. Open victory at Torrey Pines.
That was one of his eight pro victories on the public course along the Pacific bluffs. Woods has performed better at Torrey than any other PGA Tour course, and he’s hopeful some of those good vibes will return.
He played the pro-am Wednesday on the North Course in the early morning chill of 50-degree weather at sea level. Even so, the gallery was as large as it was for tournament days at the first three PGA Tour events this year.
“I think everyone would like to see him perform at a very high level,” Monahan said.
… Woods has added another equipment endorsement deal by signing with TaylorMade on Wednesday to play everything except the golf ball and the putter.
Woods was open to shop around when Nike decided last year to get out of the hard equipment business. Woods still has a deal with Nike to wear its shoes and apparel.
The multiyear deal with TaylorMade means he will use the company’s driver, fairway metals, irons and wedges. He still had his Nike irons and wedges at Torrey Pines on Wednesday. TaylorMade is working on a special iron for him.
Woods previously signed a deal with Bridgestone to use its golf ball.
He has gone back to his Scotty Cameron putter that he used most of his career, including 13 of his 14 majors.
WEB.COM: At Great Abaco, Bahamas, Andrew Landry took a step toward returning to the PGA Tour with a 5-under 67 for a three-shot victory in the Bahamas Great Abaco Classic.
He finished three shots ahead of Scotland’s Jimmy Gunn, a former winner at Farmington’s San Juan Open. Gunn closed with a 68 and made more than $64,800. Rio Rancho native Tim Madigan tied for 21st.