PGA and European Tour officials, along with sponsors HSBC, will now be searching for means to include Tiger Woods in this year’s WGC – HSBC Champions event in Shanghai.
Woods has competed in four of the six HSBC Champions event since the tournament debuted in 2005 on the European Tour.
He’s been exempt for the tournament by qualifying among the world’s top-25 ranked players.
Tiger Woods leaving the golf world again wondering. (Photo - Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
And in his four apperances on the Sheshan Golf Club course, Woods has finished runner-up in both 2005 and 2006, then sixth in both 2009 and 2010.
But heading to this week’s PGA Championship, Woods had dropped outside the top-25 to 30th place.
And given the uncertain nature of his playing schedule leading up to the October 3rd starting WGC – HSBC Champions, Woods can be expected to slump even further down the rankings.
After playing poorly in the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational and then missing the cut in the PGA Championship, the thing that Woods needs most is competition not time away from the game.
Yet Woods would not commit to next week’s Wyndham Championship in North Carolina and that means he’ll be ineligible for any of the four-tournament FedEx Cup playoff events that commence next fortnight in Edison, New Jersey.
And at this stage, Woods next event is the November 10th commencing Australian Open in Sydney ahead of Woods joining the USA Team in defending the Presidents Cup in Melbourne.
It means Woods is facing 12 weeks without confirmed competition before teeing up in Sydney.
And knowing HSBC’s Giles Morgan, he will be going all out to get Woods into his Shanghai tournament.
As one observer suggested: “Don’t be surprised if they find a new entry criteria for Woods to play in Shanghai – Anyone who has won 14 Majors”.
Woods shot a three over second round 73 in Atlanta to add to his opening-round 77 for a 10-over par tally that ensured he sat out the weekend by six strokes.
It’s only the third time in the Major’s, Woods has not played all four rounds of a Major since turning pro in late 1996.
And it was the first time Woods missed the cut in 14 PGA Championships, and in an event he’s won four times.
As well, it’s just the seventh time in 260 starts since turning pro that Woods failed to advance after the 36-hole cut.
And it was just his third missed cut as a pro in a Major Championship with the others coming at the 2006 U.S. Open and 2009 Open Championship.
After injury, there has now been insult with Woods’ game now at an eerily poor level.
But while Woods still commands remarkable attention and interest, double Major winning Greg Norman believes a struggling Woods needs to accept he no longer is the 14-Major winning dominant force in golf he once was.
Greg Norman suggests Woods could better cope with an off-course business interest. (Photo - Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
“It’s disappointing seeing what Tiger’s going through at present, and it’s tough for him as he really has nothing else to do but play golf,” said Norman.
“When I struggled with injury I had somewhere else to go. I invested myself in business. It was easy for me, mentally, to make that transition.
“If Tiger wasn’t to hang on and hang on, and try to pretend, put this veil of fabrication up there…I don’t know what it is.
“That’s why I say he’s go to admit the truth.
“You have to wake up every morning and look yourself in the mirror and the questions you ask yourself you have to answer truthfully.
“You’re the only one who can do that and that’s the big thing for Tiger.
“I hate to see a great athlete like Tiger go through what he’s going through.
“But it’s up to him. Happiness comes from within. It doesn’t come from anywhere else, so hopefully he’ll work it out”.
