Hong Kong, China—Tiger Woods has been seen at just four US PGA Tour events in 2020 but could double that over the next five weeks, providing the 44-year-old’s creaking body can hold up during three consecutive FedEx Cup playoff events.
The 15-time major winner has been protecting his fused back and dodgy knees—appearing only twice since June’s restart—in anticipation of a busy run starting with Thursday’s Northern Trust in Boston, which will reduce the top 125 in the standings to a field of 70 for the BMW Championship in Chicago next week.
Woods is 49th on the FedEx points list and needs to break into the top 30 to qualify for the Tour Championship in Atlanta, the scene of an emotional and career-reviving triumph in 2018.
That victory, his first since 2013, was the launch-pad for a fifth Masters triumph and record-equaling 82nd PGA Tour win at the Zozo Championship in Japan 10 months ago.
Should history repeat at East Lake in 2020, it will set Woods up for an assault on a 16th major at the US Open at Winged Foot beginning September 17—a fourth tournament in a little over a month.
Woods and his aching bones will at least have plenty of time to recover before the defence of his coveted green jacket.
The Masters, without spectators, does not begin at Augusta until November 12.
Don’t write off Rory
Before coronavirus, Rory McIlroy was flying. Six top-five finishes in a row, including a WGC win in Shanghai, had propelled him back to world number one. Then the US PGA Tour shut down for three months.
Since the resumption? Six starts and one top-30 finish—tied 11th at the Travelers Championship at the end of June—are all McIlroy has been able to muster.
But anyone seeking to write off the Northern Irishman as yesterday’s man should beware: McIlroy has an unmatched record at this time of year.
In 2019 he became only the second player after Tiger Woods to win the FedEx Cup twice.
His five victories in FedEx Cup playoff events are more than anyone—Dustin Johnson and Woods come next at four apiece.
With a tidy $40,551,452 in prize money and cup bonuses in the bank, McIlroy is out on his own as number one in FedEx Cup earnings, surpassing Woods with his win in the Tour Championship courtesy of a $15 million payday in August last year.
He might just add a few cents to that over the next three weeks.