Tiger Woods is back in competitive golf action in 2018

Tiger Woods has whipped up feverish excitement among legions of fans by announcing that he will make his season debut at the Farmers Insurance Open on January 25. This will be Woods’ first PGA Tour event in a year and it makes a great deal of sense as the former world number one has a phenomenal record at Torrey Pines. He was hugely impressive on his return to competitive action towards the end of 2017, when he tied for ninth in the 18-man Hero World Challenge field in the Bahamas. His distance off the tee and his general competitiveness surprised many fans, and his re-emergence could be the big story of 2018.

His last PGA Tour appearance came at the Farmers last year, where he missed the cut. He has had all manner of injury problems over the last few years and his back has given him terrible trouble, but he now says he is playing without pain for the first time in recent memory. Last year aside, he has a magnificent record at Torrey: he has won nine times on this course, seven of them in the Farmers. He also won the Junior World here aged 15, and beat Rocco Mediate in a tense playoff to claim the US Open in 2008. Between 2005 and 2008, he claimed four straight victories in the Farmers, so it represents the perfect opportunity for him to stage his comeback.

“He looks healthy, he’s got great club-head speed, he’s hitting phenomenal shots – he’s hitting as good shots as anybody,” said Woods’ former coach Hank Haney, when discussing his chances of success in the weeks ahead. Woods may be ranked 647 in the world, but for the first major of the Year, the Masters at Augusta, he ranks among the favorites. Make sure to check 5dimes for odds and you will see that he is in the top 10 most players in the betting.

The Farmers Insurance Open is delighted to have him back in the running. “It’s awesome,” said tournament director Peter Ripa. “There’s a feeling that this comeback is different, with the eye test we got at the Hero World Challenge. He hit shots, he looked strong. There’s a national anticipation for this.”

Woods will be the main draw at the tournament, but there is plenty of talent in the field. Heavyweights like Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy are not declared, but several big names will be there. World number three Jon Rahm and world number five Hideki Matsuyama are both in the mix and both bidding to build on the excellent form they displayed in 2017. Rahm won this tournament by three strokes last year thanks to two back-nine eagles, the second on the final hole. While the attention will largely be on Woods, Rahm will be the man to beat.

He is just 23 but already looks like Europe’s great hope of standing toe to toe with Spieth and Thomas in years to come. A top ranked amateur for a record 60 weeks, he dazzled after joining the PGA tour last season. The 60-yard eagle putt at the Farmers sent him on his way, and he capped a superb year by excelling in the FedEx Cup. He moved up to third in the world with a runner-up finish behind Dustin Johnson at the Tournament of Champions this month, and is looking extremely dangerous.

Matsuyama continues to gain momentum and looks set to win a major in the not too distant future, so he too will be a key man to watch in San Diego at the Farmets. Former world number one Jason Day is also in the running as is Justin Rose, who is really on a roll at present. Throw in veterans like Phil Mickelson and a bunch of exciting youngsters, and the Farmers Insurance Open looks set to be a gripping contest between stars of the past, present and future.

Images by Farmers Insurance Open Facebook