Will Woods Play the Pines?

Tiger Woods’ appearance — or absence — will have an impact on the Buick Invitational’s success. But he’s not the only factor for the Torrey Pines tourney.

GIVEN THE FACT that professional golf championships linked to Torrey Pines seem to have become the property of a single individual, is there a motion from the local community to change the name of San Diego’s seaside treasure to Torrey Woods? Tiger Pines?

When Tiger Woods limped to victory during the U.S. Open last June, it was the fifth consecutive triumph at Torrey Pines for the world’s number-one golfer, the other four having come in successive Buick Invitationals. It also was the last tournament appearance that year for Woods, knee surgery having removed him from golf’s competitive landscape—presumably to the relief of others who pursue wins on the PGA Tour, but to the dismay of tournament directors who covet his gate appeal.

With the 2009 Buick Invitational scheduled for Torrey Pines February 2-8, the ongoing rehab of Tiger Woods’ repaired limb raises an obvious question: Will he be available for another title defense?

The answer is wed exclusively to his physical status. No player in PGA Tour history has won the same event five consecutive times. In addition to Woods, only three others have won four straight, and the names resonate through the ages. Tom Morris Jr. won four consecutive British Opens, the first in 1868. Walter Hagan was PGA champion from 1924 through 1927. Beginning in 1926, Gene Sarazen was winner of the Miami Open four times running.

Striving for accomplishments that elevate him above the long line of great players who preceded him, as well as today’s marquee names, is the fuel that drives Tiger Woods. If the knee is ready, he'll run to the first tee at Torrey.

“From what I’m hearing, his doctors have set a date of January 1 for Tiger to begin putting full swing pressure on the leg,” says Tom Wilson, executive director of the Century Club, a nonprofit organization that’s local administrator for the Buick Invitational. “I’m also hearing he keeps urging the doctors to push the date up, but they apparently have been reluctant to do so. In the meantime, all he can do is practice putting and chipping, which is not good news for other players. They don’t need to see him improve in those areas.

“We’d obviously be delighted if his return happens at our tournament,” says Wilson. “He’s kind of hinted that he’d like to make it his first one back, but the comments are really guarded.”

A commitment could be delayed almost until the Buick’s flags are in place. PGA pros do not have to enter until the Friday before a tournament, and Woods—even under normal circumstances—routinely waits until that dead line before confirming.

WHETHER OR NOT WOODS is in the field, players will find the South Course at Torrey Pines somewhat different than the one that challenged them last June. Mark Woodward, then the golf operations manager for the city, had offered the USGA, which stages the Open, a layout that, condition-wise, was the equal of its pristine surroundings.

“USGA officials were very pleased with all aspects of the championship, both inside and outside the ropes,” says Jay Rains, a local attorney who is vice president of the USGA’s executive committee and was instrumental in San Diego’s selection as a tournament site. “Simply stated, it was one of the greatest Opens in history—in all ways you could measure. The community came together in a manner that should make us all proud and produced an event that not only was successful financially but created a special feeling that was uniquely San Diego. I’m sure Torrey Pines will receive strong consideration for a return engagement.”

From a Century Club viewpoint, Wilson sees the Open as a long-term plus for his tournament. “It did bring in some top pros who hadn’t played here, and we have reason to believe they’ll be back,” he says. “It also exposed San Diego and Torrey Pines to the corporate world. People who decide which events to support could see there is fairly easy access to the airport, ample hotel space, things like that.

“It also got the golf course in the kind of condition we long had wanted.”

The redesigned South Course was, in fact, in such superb shape Mark Woodward was offered—and accepted—the position as CEO of The Golf Courses Superintendents of America (headquartered in Lawrence, Kansas) several months before the Open teed off.

“Mark did a great job, but he’d be the first to acknowledge the tremendous contribution of [his assistant] Jon Maddern, particularly in the two years leading up to the Open,” Rains says. “As Mark’s replacement, Jon clearly has the talent to maintain the South Course’s condition at an Open level—if the city provides him with the personnel and budget required to do so.”

Among Maddern’s immediate challenges is nudging the South Course back toward a demanding, but more reasonable, degree of difficulty than exists during an Open setup. Instead of four cuts of rough, with the highest resembling a wheat field at maturity, players next month will be confronted by no more than two cuts and a 3-inch maximum height.

“Green speeds will be slower,” says Maddern. “Firmness of the fairways will be determined to a certain extent by the weather. There’s certainly more chance for rain in February than June.”

He says the PGA intends to use the new tees installed for the Open at 13 and 16—at least for a couple of rounds. If so, players will be looking at a tee-to-hole distance of 614 yards at 13 (instead of the previous 540) and a 225-yard carry to the fairway at 16.

The North Course (not used in the Open) will play some 3½ strokes easier than the South. “Initial plans to increase difficulty on the North have been tabled,” says Maddern. “There was a lot of sentiment from residents to not do anything.”

Even before U.S. Open exposure beamed splendid vistas of Torrey Pines to an international audience, the Buick Invitational had become a TV heavyweight and rallying point for fans anticipating appearances by the game’s giants. Aside from major championships, the Buick has been the top-rated televised PGA Tour event for 15 of the last 20 ratings years.

Is there concern about negative impact on this winter’s tournament from a sour economy?

In early November, Wilson said the majority of pro-am spots had been sold. “Our revenues are ahead of last year,” he says. “We look ahead with cautious optimism.

“A lot of our success will depend on whether or not Mr. Woods walks through the door.”

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