The 2018 PGA Tour season has been underway for a few months but it’s still the quiet part of the year.
That’s going change at the Farmers Insurance Open next week. The mainstream media, experts, sponsors and even casual golf fans will have their eyes on Torrey Pines as Tiger Woods is set to make his return.
Woods hasn’t been an impact player for a long time, and he’s made several failed comeback attempts. Will this go round be any different?
Why the hype?
Woods has made several comeback attempts, but for the most part he’s never looked like the Tiger of old. Not even close. However, this time might be different. That’s because a lot of people are banking their hopes on what they saw at a small tournament in the Bahamas.
At the 2018 Hero World Challenge, Woods finally looked like a sound player. He shot an 8-under for the event and finished ninth. That’s not bad when you consider that Rickie Fowler, Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose and Hideki Matsuyama were all in the field. Woods actually finished a stroke ahead of Justin Thomas, last year’s FedEx Cup Champion.
So the question is whether or not Woods is in fact back on track with his game or if that was just a good weekend at a cupcake event on a very forgiving course. We’re going to find out soon, and the oddsmakers already have a take on his performance.
Will Tiger make the cut?
On Friday, BetDSI Sportsbook posted odds on whether or not Woods will make the cut at the 2018 Farmer Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. The smart guys who make the odds don’t foresee Woods sticking around for the weekend action.
Will Tiger Woods make the cut at 2018 Farmers Insurance Open?
Yes +110
No -140
(Odds via BetDSI.eu)
Bettors have to risk $140 to win $100 if they think Woods isn’t up to playing with a full field of golfers in a true professional tournament. A plus payout is available to players that think he’ll boost the weekend TV ratings with +110 odds.
What kind of shape is Tiger in?
By all accounts, fairly good shape. But you have to remember that he’s been through a lot and he’s no longer a young buck. Woods is now 42 years old and has had multiple injuries and surgeries. Even as he approached his last birthday, he spoke publicly about how difficult his recoveries were and whether or not he’d be able to make it back to the PGA Tour.
Not only is there the matter of getting into physical shape, he also has to get into golf shape. He’s been healthy before while having minimal impact on Tour.
Don’t forget that Woods hasn’t won since 2013. He’s made 19 starts from 2014 and beyond, and he’s made the cut just 11 times. And while Woods is back at a place where he’s won a number of times, he’s also had some recent embarrassments there too.
Woods is a once-in-a-generation golfer, which is why he gets the benefit of the doubt. And he did look good in the Bahamas, but we still really don’t know who he is as a player right now.
Course history – Torrey Pines
Woods has won at Torrey Pines eight times in his career. Regardless of what shape he’s in, how long he’s been away from the PGA Tour or how much the course has been tweaked, he has a long track record of success here. That means he has a shot.
Of his eight wins at Torrey Pines, seven were at the Farmers Insurance Open and one was at the U.S. Open. That’s the good news.
The bad news is that he withdrew at Torrey Pines last year. In 2015, Woods was the butt of all jokes when he had to pull out due to an issue with his glutes. None of his success here is recent.
Further complicating matters is that the course has changed a lot since Woods had his wins. On the North course, the greens have been given a full makeover. On the South course, it’s much longer these days. And if he gets into the rough, remember that it’s U.S.-open density. That will really test his back.
Another comeback season?
Although everyone is excited to see Woods back on the links, it’s important to temper expectations. This isn’t the first time he’s made a comeback and the recent ones haven’t gone so well.
One example is last season when he also made a much-anticipated return at Torrey. There was plenty of pre-tournament hype, but it quickly fizzled out when he shot a 4-over 76 in his first round. That paved the way for him missing the cut for the first time ever at Torrey Pines. That would be his only start of the season.
It would be a great story if he did make the cut, but the truth is Woods would have an easier time making a comeback at the Sony Open in Hawaii or the CareerBuilder Challenge in La Quinta where the courses are flat and the scores are typically low.
Don’t take the bait and bet on him making the cut at +110 odds offered by BetDSI.eu.
