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Study shows modern golf swing causing more back injuries to players, and at younger ages

Source: GolfWorld
By

Tiger Woods is beginning the second year of his latest comeback campaign, a return from multiple surgeries on his back. While Woods has remained relatively healthy over the past 15 months, precisely what caused Woods’ woes remains a debate. Some point to the staggering amount of swings he’s taken in his lifetime. Others assert Tiger overdid it in the weight room, former caddie Stevie Williams claims it is self-inflicted from Woods’ fiddles with military training, and parts of the Internet subscribe to more cynical theories.

However, according to a new study, Tiger’s injuries—and injuries of other modern golfers—can be distilled to a far more elementary notion.

In the latest issue of the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, a group of doctors from the Barrow Neurological Institute make the case that the modern “X-factor” swing favored by many professionals may hit balls harder and farther, but it can also put extra strain on the spine.

Comparing today’s players with legends like Jack Nicklaus and Ben Hogan, the doctors maintain today’s players are more muscular and have more powerful downswings, and this can put increased force on the spinal disc and facet joints, which leads to repetitive traumatic discopathy.

“We believe Tiger Wood’s experience with spinal disease highlights a real and under-recognized issue amongst modern era golfers,” writes Dr. Corey T. Walker. “RTD results from years of degenerative ‘hits’ or strains on the spine resulting in early onset breakdown, instability, and pain. We hope medical practitioners, and surgeons in particular, will be able to diagnose and treat golfers with RTD in a specialized fashion going forward.”

The group continues that, not only are current golfers experiencing more back injuries than their predecessors, but that they are victims to such issues earlier in life than non-golfers in their age range.

This line of thinking is not new, as Phil Mickelson has long been a proponent of these findings. “You can play golf for a lifetime and injury-free if you swing the club like Bobby Jones did, like Ernest Jones used to teach—where it’s a swinging motion rather than a violent movement,” Mickelson said at the 2016 Masters. “A lot of the young guys get hurt as they create this violent, connected movement, and I don’t believe that’s the proper way to swing the golf club.”

While the report can be worrisome for golfers both professional and amateur, other health experts maintain stretching and improving your core muscles can stave off injury. Golf Digest Fitness Advisor Ben Shear says back discomfort can be avoided by “Strengthening the muscles at the bottom of the spine, and improve flexibility in the mid and upper back.”

Link to article: Click here

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The 30-second guide to the Genesis Open: Who won, best shot, best storyline and more

Source: GOLF.com
By Josh Berhow

Justin Thomas led heading into the final day of the Genesis Open, but J.B. Holmes, Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods and others were lurking in what was a long and cold day at Riviera Country Club. Here’s what you missed.

Who won: J.B. Holmes (one-under 70, 14 under overall)

How it happened: Lots of golf was played on Sunday. Thursday’s rain delay pushed the entire tournament back and players returned to the course early on Sunday to finish their third rounds before teeing off for their final round. Thomas was two holes into his third round and led by one when play was called on Saturday, and when the third round was complete he was at 17 under and leading by four. But a lot changed Sunday afternoon. Thomas bogeyed three of the first five and Holmes took his first solo lead with a birdie on 10 when Thomas made bogey. Thomas birdied 11 to Holmes’s bogey to retake a one-shot lead, but Thomas needed seven putts on the 13th and 14th and made double bogey and bogey to fall two behind Holmes. Thomas birdied 16 to cut the lead to one, but couldn’t make a final birdie to catch Holmes. Thomas signed for a 75.

Key hole: Holmes and Thomas alternated two-shot swings on the 10th and 11th holes, but Thomas four-putted for double bogey on the 13th. That costly error gave Holmes a lead he never lost.

Why it matters: It’s the 36-year-old Holmes’s fifth win of his PGA Tour career and first since the 2015 Shell Houston Open. Holmes’s first two victories came in 2006 and 2008, and he later overcame brain surgery in 2011 before rejoining the PGA Tour in early 2012. The 2014 Wells Fargo Championship was his first victory after returning from surgery.

Best shot when it mattered: Holmes, leading by two with three to play, hit his tee shot on the par-3 16th into the bunker, but he made a key par save from 11 feet. Thomas followed by knocking in his short birdie putt, but Holmes’s clutch par kept him out in front and prevented the two-shot swing.

Notables: Woods closed with a 72 and finished T15, McIlroy shot 69 to finish T4 and Jordan Spieth made quad on the par-4 10th and shot a 10-over 81, his highest score in relation to par in his pro career.

Best secondary storyline: J.B. Holmes’s sluggish pace was noticed by the broadcast team — and social media.

Up next: Phil Mickelson defends his title south of the border as we gear up for the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship. Woods is also in the field.

Link to article: Click here

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Making sense of golf’s new rules

PGA TOUR rules officials guide you through the process of understanding the significant changes in 2019

Source: PGA Tour
By Staff

In mid-December, roughly two weeks before significant changes in the Rules of Golf were to officially take effect, Jim Furyk – a 17-time PGA TOUR winner, a major champion, the only TOUR pro with two sub-60 rounds, and a long-time U.S. representative in both the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup – made an admission.

“I’m probably a little ashamed to say that if you asked me what the rule changes were, you’d probably surprise me by telling me about a couple of them,” Furyk said. “I need to be a little bit more well-versed in what’s going to happen.”

Not to worry, Jim. It’s understandable. Golfers at all levels are still trying to grasp the scope and breadth of the rules changes, which go into play today with the calendar flipping to 2019. Consider this: In an eight-page document that offers a summary chart of the changes, there are 37 new rules – and those are just the most significant changes as outlined by the USGA and the R&A.

Some of the new rules have already generated discussion (you may have heard that Bryson DeChambeau plans to leave the flagstick in for some putts). Some may generate controversy the first time a player accidentally violates one of them. And some are already head-scratchers.

While Furyk may not be well-versed in every rule, he already has one circled for the water cooler. “If I had to be skeptical of one rule, it’d be tapping down spike marks,” he said.

There will be, of course, a learning curve, as players get used to and understand the changes, which seemingly hit all areas – equipment, player behavior, pace of play, taking relief, balls in motion/at rest, to name a few. Change is always difficult but the rationale behind the changes is noble.

“They don’t change rules just because it’s going to make it difficult,” insisted World Golf Hall of Famer Vijay Singh, who became a force on PGA TOUR Champions in 2018. “I think it’s going to be easier. We just have to get used to it. It’s going to take time for us to learn it.”

Some players have more time – and perhaps a bit more incentive/patience – than others. The legendary Jack Nicklaus, long past the days of his competitive prime, has yet to really immerse himself in the rules changes. He may never do so.

As the Golden Bear said, “I’m not going to play golf. I don’t care about rules right now. My rules are about the same as when I finished. If I don’t like the shot, I hit another one. If I hit the first putt and it’s not very close, then I just pick it up. That’s the rules I play. It’s great.”

Sounds like fun. But at least in pro golf, it’s best to abide by whatever rules are in effect. To that end, PGA TOUR rules officials put together this easy-to-read tutorial along with accompanying videos from members of the TOUR’s Rules Committee. It might be good to keep this link handy starting with this week’s Sentry Tournament of Champions — the first pro event utilizing the new rules. — By Mike McAllister, with reporting from Andrew Tursky

DROPPING A BALL

The ball must be dropped straight down from knee height.

Knee height means the height of the player’s knee when in a standing position.

The ball must fall straight down, without the player throwing, spinning or rolling it.

The ball must not touch any part of the player’s body or equipment before it hits the ground. If it rolls against the player’s foot or equipment accidentally after striking the ground, the ball is in play.

DROPPING AGAIN

Once dropped, the ball must land in and come to rest in the relief area.

If the ball rolls outside the relief area it must be dropped again, then if it rolls out a second time, the ball must be placed where it first struck the ground on the second drop just as we do today.

If the placed ball will not stay at rest on that spot, it must be placed on that spot a second time and if it still will not stay there, it must be placed on the nearest spot where it will stay at rest, no nearer the hole.

If a Drop Zone is being used, the ball when dropped must land and come to rest in the Drop Zone.

THE RELIEF AREA

The Relief Area is the area where a player must drop a ball when taking relief under a Rule.

The Relief Area is a defined area that is equal to the length of the longest club carried by a player, other than a putter.

No matter what club is used to measure, the ball must come to rest within the longest club, other than a putter. Using a putter or sand wedge will not provide a smaller relief area.

The one club-length Relief Area will be uniform for all procedures, except when a player is using the two club-length “Lateral Relief” option from a red penalty area or from an unplayable ball.

This change makes the Relief Area consistent.

No matter if a player is dropping a ball from an immovable obstruction, from an embedded ball, from a wrong putting green, when using “Back-On-The-Line Relief” under penalty, or when using the “Stroke-and-Distance Relief” option under penalty, the Relief Area is one club-length.

When taking free relief or penalty relief, the original ball or another ball must be dropped in the relief area.

ELIMINATION OF PENALTIES

There is now NO penalty for an accidental double hit.

All accidental deflections are treated the same way; NO penalty and the ball is played as it lies.

During a search for a ball, there is NO penalty if a ball is moved by the player or his caddie. In all cases, the ball will be replaced, it will never be dropped.

There is now NO penalty if a ball in motion accidentally hits the player, caddie, his equipment, or the flagstick whether removed or attended.

There is only a penalty if it is deliberate or if the player or caddie deliberately positions equipment to stop a ball in motion.

There is still NO penalty for a ball or ball-marker accidentally moved on the putting green.

There is now NO penalty for carrying a non-conforming club, penalty applies only for using it.

On the putting green a ball which strikes a moving leaf after a putt, is NO longer cancelled and replayed. The ball will be played as it lies.

If a ball has been moved by an Outside Influence, it must be replaced in all cases including when the spot is not known. It will NEVER be dropped.

BUNKERS

Loose impediments in a bunker may now be removed or touched, provided the ball does not move. If the ball moves as a result, there is a one stroke penalty and the ball must be replaced. Hence, a Local Rule for Stones in Bunkers will no longer exist as the Rules will allow their removal.

The Rules will now allow the player to generally touch the sand in a bunker with a hand or a club, but there are limitations. For example:

— You cannot touch the sand in a bunker when making a practice swing or in the backswing for the stroke.

— You cannot deliberately touch the sand in the bunker with your hand, club, rake or other object to test the condition of the sand to learn information for the stroke.

— You cannot touch the sand in a bunker with a club in the area right in front of or right behind the ball, except when searching or removing a loose impediment or movable obstruction.

There is NO longer a penalty for striking the sand in anger or frustration, or for leaning on a club in the sand away from the ball while waiting to play.

PENALTY AREAS

Penalty Area is the new name for Water Hazard.

Penalty Areas will still be marked either Yellow or Red.

In a Penalty Area the player can now ground the club lightly behind the ball, move a loose impediment, take a practice swing and touch the ground or the water.

Opposite Margin relief from a Red Penalty area is not available by the Rule. This option must be noted on the Local Rules sheet each week for each specific Red Penalty Area.

NOTE: As was the case previously, the player cannot take relief from Abnormal Ground Conditions including Immovable Obstructions or an Embedded Ball within a penalty area.

DROPPING OPTIONS

Important Note: Opposite Margin relief from a Red Penalty area is not available by the Rule. This option must be noted on the Local Rules sheet each week for each specific Red Penalty Area.

PUTTING GREENS

Damage to a putting green may be repaired.

Damage is described in the Rule and it means any damage caused by a person or outside influence and includes ball marks, old hole plugs, turf plugs, shoe damage (such as spike marks) and scrapes or indentations caused by equipment or the flagstick. Any repair must be done promptly.

It does NOT include natural surface imperfection, disease, aeration hole or natural wear of the hole.

The line of play on the putting green may now be touched, including when pointing out a line for putting, but the line must not be improved beyond what is now permitted when repairing damage, i.e.: the player may NOT create a pathway or channel to the hole.

If the player’s ball on the putting green moves after the player had already lifted and replaced the ball, the ball MUST be replaced on its original spot, which if not known must be estimated. This is the case no matter what caused the replaced ball to move, including natural forces (wind).

GREENS READING MATERIALS LIMITATIONS

There are new limitations on mapped Greens Books, including green diagrams in a traditional yardage book. ANY putting green image that is used during the round MUST be limited to a scale of 3/8 inch to 5 yards. A yardage or greens book must also meet a size limit of 7 inches x 4.25 inches.

Any hand-drawn or written information by the player or the caddie is allowed, but only if contained in a book or paper meeting this size limit (other than a hole placement sheet). Magnification of putting green information is not allowed, other than a players normal wearing of glasses.

FLAGSTICK

The player can now putt leaving the flagstick in the hole, but the player must decide this before making the stroke.

There is NO penalty if the ball strikes a flagstick left in the hole prior to the stroke, or for a ball accidentally striking a flagstick that is attended or removed.

If the player elects to putt with the flagstick in the hole, it must NOT be moved after the stroke to affect where a ball in motion may come to rest. It may only be removed when there is no reasonable possibility that the ball will strike the flagstick.

If a ball rests against a flagstick in the hole and part of the ball is below the level of the lip, the ball will be considered holed, even if the entire ball is not below the surface. There is no longer a requirement to move the flagstick to see if the ball falls into the hole. The ball may be simply picked up.

LOST/PROVISIONAL BALLS

The time to search for a ball is reduced from 5 minutes to 3 minutes. The time of search still starts when the player or caddie begin to search. If the original ball is found, the provisional ball must be abandoned.

Once the search time has begun, there is NO penalty if the ball is accidentally moved during the search by anyone including the player or caddie. Simply replace the ball in its estimated position.

The player can now go back to where the ball was last played and play a provisional ball at any time before the original ball is found.

The player must still announce that the ball about to be played is a provisional ball. The player must use the word “provisional” or otherwise clearly indicate that he or she is playing the ball provisionally.

EMBEDDED BALL

The relief procedure has changed for an embedded ball.

The relief area starts at the spot right behind where the ball is embedded. A ball must be dropped in the one club-length relief area, not nearer the hole than this spot, and in the General Area.

There is NO longer a requirement to announce to your marker or another player your intention to mark and lift the ball to check if it is embedded, but it is still good practice to do so.

A ball is NOT embedded if it is below the level of the ground as a result of anything other than the player’s previous stroke, such as when the ball was dropped in taking relief under a Rule.

As with other relief procedures, a ball may be substituted and dropped when taking relief. The original ball may be used, but it is not necessary.

DROPPING OPTIONS FROM AN UNPLAYABLE BALL

When using the “Stroke-and-Distance Relief” option (No. 1 option above), the player must now estimate where the previous stroke was played and drop a ball within one club-length of that spot not nearer the hole.

When using the “Back-on-the-Line Relief” option (No. 2 option) or keeping the place where the ball lies between you and the hole, the player can now drop in a one club-length relief area rather than exactly on the line itself as was done previously.

The player can go back on the line as far as he wants, select a point on the line and drop within one club-length of that point, not nearer the hole. (The player should indicate the point on the line by using an object such as a coin or tee.) The ball when dropped cannot go forward of this point.

Using the 2 club-length “Lateral Relief” option (No. 3 option) when a ball is unplayable, the ball must stay in the 2 club-length relief area when dropped.

It can no longer roll 2 club-lengths from where it strikes the ground.

ALIGNMENT

No one can help the player with his alignment for the stroke. This is an essential skill which the player must do for himself.

A caddie is NO longer allowed to stand behind the player to help with alignment. At the moment the player begins to take his stance, the caddie must not deliberately stand directly behind the player. The penalty is two strokes in stroke play.

There is one exception which applies only on the Putting Green. The penalty can be avoided if the player backs away and starts again without the caddie directly behind him. Provided the player backs away and starts again on the Putting Green, there is no penalty.

The player cannot set something down (such as a club) to help with alignment for a stroke. Once this is done the penalty is two strokes in stroke play.

CLUBS AND BALLS

CLUBS

No matter how a club is damaged, even by abusing it, the player can continue to use the club in its damaged state for the rest of the round, but he will NOT be allowed to replace it.

There will be NO replacement of a club unfit for play (such as a cracked driver face), unless the damage is caused by an outside influence or natural forces. No matter what the nature or cause of the damage, the damaged club is treated as conforming for the rest of that round only.

The player will be allowed to have the damaged club repaired but the repair is limited to the original components of the club – the same grip, shaft and clubhead. Damage that existed prior to the round must not be repaired.

A club MUST still conform when starting a new round or when starting a play-off in stroke play, if it is to be used. There is NO penalty for carrying a non-conforming club, only for using it.

BALLS

The player is NO longer required to announce that he is lifting the ball to determine if it is cut or cracked or for identification. Simply mark the ball and lift it.

Cut or Cracked replaces the term Ball Unfit for Play. Hence a ball out of shape may not be replaced. A ball can only be replaced if it is cut or cracked and that damage happened on the same hole.

CADDIESA caddie will now be able to mark, lift and replace the player’s ball (if he lifted it) on the putting green ONLY, without needing authorization. The player is still responsible for any related breach of the Rules.

A caddie will NO longer be able to align the player while he is taking his stance for any stroke. There are strict Rules about where the caddie may deliberately stand when the player begins to take his stance. Other than on the putting green, there is no way out of a penalty if the caddie is deliberately standing directly behind the player when he starts to take his stance.

DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICES

Although in 2019 the Rules of Golf will allow the everyday use of Distance Measuring Devices (DMD’s) without measuring elevation changes; the PGA TOUR will be adopting a Local Rule on our Hard Card which will prevent the use of DMD’s during any tournament rounds.

Penalty for first breach of this Local Rule during a tournament round is two strokes in stroke play; second breach during the same round Disqualification.

DMD’s without elevation change, will still be permitted in PGA TOUR pre-tournament Pro-Ams, Open Qualifying rounds and stages of Q school, except the Q school finals.

TEMPORARY IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS

The TIO Local Rule was recrafted to enable a player to treat a TIO as an Immovable Obstruction when any physical interference exists, if the player so chooses. This should simplify the process for players when taking relief.

When a player has both Physical Interference and Line of Sight Interference, he has a choice of either procedure. However, once this choice is made, the other option may not be used.

PREFERRED LIES

The position of the ball may be marked before being lifted, but it is not required. Simply lift the ball and place a ball once within one club length of the original spot, but not nearer the hole. As with other relief procedures, a ball may be substituted when a ball is lifted under this Local Rule.

Link to article: Click here

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New Year, new food. 🍔

With new recipes & the revival of our popular “Chef’s Choice Dinner,” we know you’re going to love dining in 2019.

Italian Nights are back!

Every Monday | 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM

Enjoy the tastes of Tuscany here at Heritage Ridge Golf Club with our weekly Italian Night!

Reservations are recommended.

For reservations,
call us at (772) 546-8711.

This Week’s Menu | 1/7

  • Shrimp Scampi | $12.95
  • Spaghetti with Meatballs | $10.95
  • Chicken Parmesan | $11.95
  • Eggplant Parmesan | $11.95

Our dinner includes a full salad bar and breadsticks. Price does not include 6% tax or 15% gratuity. 

Don’t miss this week’s Chef’s Choice Dinner!

Every Thursday | 4:30 PM- 7:00 PM

Come to our Chef’s Choice Dinner every Thursday from 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM!

This week’s dinner is Pub Night themed!

On Thursday, January 10th, enjoy Shepherd’s pie, chicken wings, fish & chips, & French dip.

For reservations,
call us at (772) 546-8711.

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New Rates Start Monday

NEWS & UPDATES

New Rates begin Mon. 1/7

7:00 AM- 8:00 AM | $36.62 + tax
8:00 AM- 12:00 PM | $41.31 + tax
12:00 PM- 2:00 PM | $36.62 + tax
2:00 PM-5:30 PM | $27.23 + tax

All rates subject to 6% sales tax.

Book your next tee time online! Never any booking fees.

BOOK A TEE TIME

Questions? Call the pro shop at
 772-546-2800

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Can Tiger Woods get to No. 1 again?

Source: ESPN
By Bob Harig

Birthdays have not served as great benchmarks of late for Tiger Woods, especially as he passed into that “twilight” area of his career where the days grow shorter and the opportunities more fleeting.

Athletes in their 40s already face long odds of success, and Woods’ plight has been made all the more onerous due to four back surgeries, the most recent of which occurred when he was 41 and already facing an uncertain future.

But as Woods celebrates birthday No. 43 this Sunday, prospects have not looked this bright in years. Woods is ranked 13th in the world, a number he hit when he won the Tour Championship for his 80th PGA Tour victory.

With a strong performance or two early in the new year, it’s not unreasonable to think that Woods could be back among the top 10 in the world for the first time since he dropped out more than four years ago.

And the chance to get to No. 1?

It’s possible, if perhaps not probable.

“If he could make it back to No. 1 in the world, that would be an incredible accomplishment,” said Hank Haney, Woods’ coach from 2004 to 2010 — a period that never saw Woods fall below third.

“I think [Jack] Nicklaus’ record [of 18 majors] is the ultimate, but so far out there [Woods has 14]. But I think No. 1 is there to be had. He has a relatively easy path. He doesn’t have all these points [that he can potentially lose] that all these guys have. So it’s easier to climb in the rankings.”

Easier. But not easy.

Woods’ rise was swift in 2018 because he started from so far back. He need only look at Jason Day to see how tough a task it is to climb to the top when you are so close.

The Australian who spent considerable time at No. 1 in 2015-16 started the year ranked 13th. He won twice — once more than Woods — and is now 14th. So Woods needs a year better than 2018, which was deemed wildly successful.

Brooks Koepka, who will start 2019 as the No. 1-ranked player in the world after a season in which he won two major championships as well as another PGA Tour event, has been in the top spot a total of eight weeks.

Woods holds records for the most consecutive weeks (281) and total weeks (683) at No. 1 but has not been there since March 2014, following the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral, his last tournament before the first of four back surgeries.

From that point, it was a losing battle for Woods to get and stay healthy, as he gradually fell down the rankings list. He was 32nd at the end of 2014; and after playing 11 times in 2015 and having two more back surgeries, he was 416th at the end of the year as he was turning 40.

The slide continued as Woods played no official events in 2016, had a three-tournament comeback late in the year and into 2017, dropping all the way to 1,199th.

A tie for ninth last December at the Hero World Challenge boosted Woods back into the top 1,000 and he was 656th when he began 2018, becoming the player now ranked among the top 100 in the world who made the biggest leap.

“The expectations are much different this upcoming year,” Woods said. “Now I know that I can do it, now it’s just about managing and making sure I’m fresh for events because I know I can win tournaments again.”

Can he get to No. 1 again?

Woods has typically maintained that the ranking takes care of itself. Win enough, contend enough, finish high enough, and getting there will happen.

And so while it is certainly possible for Woods to again be atop the rankings, it will take some work. Certainly more success than he had in 2018, when he won once, twice finished second, including a major championship, and posted a total of seven top-10 finishes.

He cracked the top 100 for the first time after the Masters, and got to No. 50 when he tied for sixth at The Open. His tie for second at the PGA Championship got him to 26th and the win got him in the top 20.

As impressive and unexpected as all that was, Woods was also doing it with a virtual clean slate in regard to the Official World Golf Ranking, which operates on a two-year rolling period, with most weight given to the most recent 13 weeks.

That means, however, that over time a player sees his points reduced in increments. Because Woods had rarely played over the previous two years, he was mostly just adding — not losing — points.

As 2019 unfolds, he will see the impact of that in his rankings. He can obviously earn more points than he loses by continuing to play well, but he is more likely to drop spots if his play does not keep up.

“He doesn’t have to get back to where he was,” Haney said, referring to the level that Woods played at when he was No. 1, most recently in 2013. “He has to get back to the level that Phil Mickelson was at while Tiger was dominating. That level alone would put him right there or near No. 1, and I think Tiger can do that.

“After watching him [in 2018], I think he can do that.”

It is almost impossible to quantify exactly what Woods needs to do to get back on top. Obviously rattling off a five-victory season — which included the Players Championship and two World Golf Championship titles — as he did in 2013 could do it.

He probably needs some kind of combination of four victories in regular tournaments or perhaps a major or WGC win (where more world ranking points are offered) and a handful of top-10s.

If you want a more technical answer and are well-versed in the workings of the OWGR, here is one way to look at it, according to Ian Barker, director of data services for the European Tour, which helps administer the ranking system.

Barker explained that Woods will have a minimum of 174 world ranking points as of April 14, 2018 — the Sunday of the Masters. He is at 219 now. And his tournament divisor will stay at a minimum of 40. (Players who play fewer than 40 times in a two-year period are given the minimum.)

“I estimate an average points figure of 11.00 at that time would be enough to be No. 1,” Barker said. (Koepka is at 9.9155 average points right now.) “To achieve that average on that date, Tiger’s total points would need to be 440. So if he wins 226 OWGR points between now and then, he’ll probably be back to No. 1.”

How would he do that? Well, by winning often. As Barker points out, that probably would require three big wins at tournaments such as WGC-Mexico (probably 72 points to the winner), Arnold Palmer (60), the Players Championship (80), the WGC-Dell Match Play (74) and the Masters (100) would all offer those opportunities.

Here’s another way to look at it:

Following the 2011 season — when Woods had sunk as low as 58th — he finished at No. 23 following a victory at the Hero World Challenge to end the year. In 2012, he played 22 worldwide events, with three victories, two missed cuts and a withdrawal and nine other top-10s.

That helped him get as high as No. 2 and he finished the year at No. 3. Then he got to No. 1 again in 2013 after winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational — his third victory of the year — and stayed there through the WGC-Cadillac Invitational in 2014.

Woods’ back problems led to surgery, a hasty comeback and mostly poor play for the rest of 2014 and 2015 — when he posted a single top 10, in his last event, and missed the cut in three majors.

When he tied for 10th at the 2015 Wyndham Championship, Woods was 257th in the world and continued to keep dropping until his most recent comeback.

Put in perspective, it is remarkable he has come this far.

Can he get all the way back? Well, Koepka, Justin Rose, Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas — to name four who all held the No. 1 spot in 2018 — as well as the likes of Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, Rickie Fowler, Jordan Spieth and Day might all have something to say about it.

At this time last year, Spieth was second and has dropped to 16th, so it can go the other way. Then again, Bubba Watson began the year at 89th, won three times, and is now at 17th — which is still four spots below Woods.

The bottom line is this: Woods can get to No. 1, but he’s going to probably need at least three victories and a slew of high finishes.

That might be a lot to ask — and would obviously position him well for 2020 — but just getting back to the top 20 and being part of the discussion going into 2019 is impressive.

“I know that I can win because I just proved it,” Woods said. “It’s just a matter of getting everything peaking at the right time.”

Link to article: Click here!

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News & Updates

NEWS & UPDATES

New Rates begin Mon. 12/03

° $37.36 before 11 AM °
° $33.02 11 AM- Close °

All rates subject to 6% sales tax.

Questions? Call the pro shop at
 772-546-2800

Book your next tee time online! Never any booking fees.

Every Monday | 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM

Enjoy the tastes of Tuscany here at Heritage Ridge Golf Club with our weekly Italian Night!

Reservations are recommended.

For reservations,
call us at (772) 546-8711.

This Week’s Menu | 12/3

Lightly Blackened Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo | $12.95
Spaghetti with Meatballs | $10.95
Chicken Parmesan | $11.95
Eggplant Parmesan | $11.95​

Our dinner includes a full salad bar and breadsticks. Price does not include 6% tax or 15% gratuity. 

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