x

Elevate your love of the game with....

InsideGOLF

Tiger Woods opts to skip Honda Classic. Where will he play next?

February 21, 2020

Tiger Woods’ preparation for the Masters will feature at least a two-week vacation.

The 15-time major winner officially declined to enter next week’s Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., his second straight week away from tournament play, as he gears up to defend his green jacket.

The decision also firms up his schedule heading into the season’s first major, set for April 9-12. After playing and hosting last weekend’s Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club, Woods skipped this week’s WGC-Mexico Championship. Following the Honda, Woods will now likely consider playing the Arnold Palmer Invitational from March 5-8, the Players Championship the following week and the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play at the end of the month.

On his way to his fifth Masters title last year, Woods played in the Genesis Invitational and the WGC-Mexico Championship before he skipped the Honda and withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational with a neck injury. Woods then tied for 30th at the Players and lost in the quarterfinals of the Match Play.

After his performance at the Genesis last week, Woods will undoubtedly be looking to sharpen his game.

Following a blistering 4-under 31 on his front nine during the first round at Riviera, Woods was 15-over the rest of the way to finish last among the players who made the cut. According to ESPN’s Bob Harig, the only other time Woods finished last among those who made the cut was at the 2015 Memorial. That week was marred by Woods’ third-round 85.

Woods was dissatisfied, certainly, but spoke about how his perspective has changed over the years, which have seen him deal with various physical ailments.

“Well, considering the fact that I look at it that this part of my career really didn’t exist a few years ago, so to be able to do that no matter what I shoot, it’s still disappointing, it’s still frustrating, I’m still a little ticked,” Woods said. “But I also look at it from a perspective which I didn’t do most of my career — I have a chance to play going down the road. A few years ago, that wasn’t the case.”

The Honda won’t be lacking for star power, as the tournament has received commitments from world No. 2 Brooks Koepka, No. 11 Tommy Fleetwood, No. 12 Justin Rose, No. 17 Louis Oosthuizen, No. 19 Gary Woodland and No. 18 Shane Lowry; along with defending champion Keith Mitchell and perennial fan-favorite Rickie Fowler.

To receive GOLF’s all-new newsletters, subscribe for free here.

x