Tiger Woods reacts to chipping in for birdie on the 17th hole during The Match at Shadow Creek Golf Course in Las Vegas, Nevada, May 11, 2019. — Reuters pic
But the PGA of America also hopes Woods winning the Masters last month at age 43 and chasing a 16th major title can boost lagging participation numbers the way his first major win did at the 1997 Masters. The decision to shift the PGA came two years ago as part of a revamp of the global golf calendar, when Woods was still recovering from the spinal fusion surgery that would end his nagging back injuries and allow him to return to elite golf success.
“I don’t know if we could count on him forever, but that momentum from the Masters into the PGA is extraordinary.”“So we really expect to have an amazing championship at an amazing place. Couldn’t be a better kind of story. I think Bethpage is one of those kind of amazing miracles.”