golf

Tiger finishes Genesis under par; plans to play all four majors in ’23

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Tiger Woods shot a 2-over 73 in his final round at the Genesis Invitational on Sunday, closing the tournament at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles at 1-under 283.

The Genesis, where Woods serves as the tournament host, marked the first competitive event he has played since the Open Championship last July and his first official, non-major event since he won the Zozo Championship in October 2019.

In a post-round interview on the CBS broadcast, Woods said he wasn’t sure when he’d play competitively again, emphasizing his focus on the four major championships.

“Competitively? I don’t know,” Woods said. “My goal each and every year from here going forward is to play in all the majors. I’m not gonna play too much more than that. My body and my leg and my back just won’t allow me to play much more than that anymore. So that was my goal last year and I was able to play three of the four. This year, hopefully I can play all four this year. That’s gonna be my schedule going forward because of all the limitations I have.”

The answer casts doubt on the possibility that Woods will make another stop at a non-major PGA Tour event, like The Players Championship, before the Masters April 6-9.

Fourteen months after a gruesome single-car accident in February 2021 that badly injured his right leg and foot, Woods returned to competitive golf at the 2022 Masters and made the cut, finishing 47th.

But at the PGA Championship the next month, Woods withdrew after the third round, unable to summon the strength to finish the major. He declined to play in the U.S. Open in June before returning at the Open Championship.

If all goes according to plan, Woods will take part in the PGA Championship May 18-21 at Oak Hill Country Club, the U.S. Open June 15-18 at the Los Angeles Country Club and the Open Championship July 20-23 at Royal Liverpool.

Woods last played the U.S. Open in 2020 and last made the cut in 2019.

As for Sunday, Woods carded five bogeys and three birdies. His last highlight shot came at the par-3 16th, where he landed his tee shot inside 6 feet of the pin to set up a birdie.

Woods’ strength on the week was his iron and wedge play. With the fourth round still in progress, he ranked 23rd in the field in strokes gained: approach the green (2.338).

His final-round 73 followed scores of 69, 74 and 67 over the first three days of the tournament.

–Field Level Media

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