Tiger Woods, who made his PGA Tour debut in 1992 at Riviera Country Club, announced on Tuesday that he will play in the 2017 version of the tournament, the Genesis Open.
Tiger Woods will return to Riviera for 2017 Genesis Open
After a decade away from his hometown event, Tiger returns to Riviera, “where it all started.”
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Can’t wait to be back at Riv and play in the #genesisopen. -TW https://t.co/RKwPudwD6K
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) December 13, 2016
Woods was 16 when he failed to make the cut at the then-Nissan Los Angeles Open. Next year’s start in the Feb. 16-Feb. 19 tournament that benefits his foundation will be Tiger’s first appearance in the Pacific Palisades, Calif., event since 2006. In addition to the MC in ’92, the former world No. 1 withdrew after a second-round 74 10 years ago, so he lugs some baggage to the contest.
Despite that, Woods said he looked forward to returning to the track “where it all started for me. ... It was my first PGA Tour event,” Woods said on the Tiger Woods Foundation website. “I was 16 years old, I weighed about 105 pounds. It was a life-changing moment for me.”
Tiger Woods will play at Riviera for the 1st time since 2006. He played his 1st PGA Tour event there in 1992 at age of 16 (via @GettySport) pic.twitter.com/w4NMM2NjPg
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) December 13, 2016
Woods returned to the tour earlier this month at his Hero World Challenge, where he finished 15th in the 18-player event. Still, the 4-under outcome was good enough to rocket the former world No. 1 from 898th in the world rankings to 650th.
Woods, who last played an official, full-field tour event at the 2015 Wyndham Championship, was expected to play in the Genesis since the tour, his foundation, and Genesis announced in March that his new company, TGR Live, will manage the tournament, most recently known as the Northern Trust Open. Tiger’s foundation is the beneficiary.
The event is already one of the highlights of the early season schedule, played on one of the more classic courses overflowing with character. That always made it a must-watch for the golf regulars but Tiger obviously boosts its appeal into a different stratosphere.
While Tiger has yet to commit to additional tournaments, Woods is likely to play in next month’s Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, where he has won eight times. He may also schedule back-to-back tee times at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, starting on Feb. 2, and the following week’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Tiger, whose birthday is Dec. 30, will be 41 when he tees it up at Riviera.
See More:
