When will Tiger Woods make his first start of the 2024 PGA Tour season?
Arguably the greatest golfer ever, the former world No. 1 is set to make his long-awaited return to the course. The question is, can he return to glory?
The fairways and greens in Los Angeles are in for a treat this February, as Tiger Woods and a number of golf’s most elite players will take to the course at the Riviera Country Club. Of course, what most will be focused on is how Woods performs in his first PGA Tour start in quite some time.
Tiger Woods will be at the Genesis Invitational
You may have heard the chatter, but we can officially confirm for you that Tiger Woods will make his first PGA Tour start since the Masters at the Genesis Invitational next week at Riviera, a tournament that he will be hosting. In a post that he made on social media, Woods stated that he was “excited to be a playing host” for the PGA Tour’s next signature event. Indeed, with a $20 million purse at stake, the event which tees off on February 15th, does carry with it a great deal of fanfare.
Interestingly, Woods also hinted at the release of new apparel. If you didn’t know, his relationship with Nike - one that started when he turned professional in 1996 - has now come to an end such that the 82-time PGA Tour event winner is now flying solo. “The vision remains the same,” he wrote.
Riviera and Tiger Woods have a history
It’s worth noting that the course at Riviera is the one on which Woods has played the most times - 12 as a professional - without winning. Indeed, from 2006 when he withdrew because of the flu to 2018 - the next time he played there - it was not a happy time. Then, just one year ago he tied for 45th on the course before heading to the Masters where he managed to make the cut. Sadly, he would withdraw at Augusta as well, after which he underwent ankle surgery only to return in December of 2023. This is all to say that it’s been a tough time for Woods and truth be told, it’s not going to get any easier at the Genesis Invitational, which features a limited field of top tier golfers. Playing on a sponsor exemption, he will have to bring his best game. but then withdrew.