Tour Championship winner Tiger Woods has opted against teeing it up at the 2019 opener in Hawaii.
Woods has not played in the Sentry Tournament of Champions since 2005, with many suggesting that the event – a select field, no cut – could be the perfect place to start his year.
Now, the tournament’s general manager has confirmed that Woods’ camp has turned down the opportunity as Woods would rather ‘spend more time with his family and friends over the holiday’.
The 80-time winner will be absent at the Kapalua resort on 3 January, but defending champion Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas, Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy are all expected to start.
With Hawaii now out of the question, all roads lead to the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in late January, an event where Woods has started his year a number of times since 2006, and on a track where he is yet to finish outside of the top 10.
The 14-time Major champion has two victories and a total of six top-five finishes in eight appearances at Torrey Pines.
