PGA Championship: Tiger will miss the cut

Just weeks after admitting he may never play competitive golf again, Tiger Woods has been cleared to resume full golf activity as he continues to climb his comeback mountain. With April’s back fusion surgery in his rearview mirror – the fourth back surgery the 79-time PGA TOUR winner has faced in the last few years – Woods has been cautiously optimistic about a return to competitive golf. At the Presidents Cup last month, where he served as a Captain’s Assistant for Steve Stricker, Woods was even asked if the possibility existed of his career being over. “Yeah, definitely,� he said. “I don’t know what my future holds for me.� But the two-time FedExCup champion and 14-time major winner also stated his desire to return. “I think it’s fun. I’ve been competing in golf tournaments since I was four years old. From pitch, putt and drive to playing major championships, it’s always been fun to me,� Woods beamed. “I don’t know what (returning to) 100 percent means after eight surgeries, but I’ll try and get as close as I can to that number. We just take it one step at a time. It’s a process, and I’m in no hurry.� The slow pace on return has been confirmed by his long-time agent Mark Steinberg, who told ESPN’s Bob Harig that Woods had been given the all-clear from his doctor, but a timetable on competition was not yet in the works. Speculation has already begun on a possible return at the Hero World Challenge in December after Woods posted progressive social media video over the last few weeks hitting a wedge, then an iron and finally a driver. “Making progress,� he tweeted. Woods returned to the event he hosts in the Bahamas last year after a lengthy layoff and produced a credible performance, leading the field in total birdies but also having enough rust to finish 15th of 18 starters. Sadly, after a missed cut at the Farmers Insurance Open in January Woods suffered a relapse on February 3 in Dubai. He hasn’t played since. “He got a nice report and is allowed to proceed,� Steinberg told ESPN of Woods’ recent doctor visit. “He can do as much as he needs to do. Tiger is going to take this very, very slowly. This is good, but he plans to do it the right way. “We have not even talked about it (a return date). We will see what each day brings, what each week brings.� Woods sits just three wins shy of matching Sam Snead’s record 82 PGA TOUR wins but hasn’t won since his five-win 2013 season.

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SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Ryan Palmer shot a bogey-free round of 6-under 66 at the Valero Texas Open to lead by two shots over Kevin Chappell, Dylan Frittelli and Matt Kuchar after Friday’s second round. RELATED: Leaderboard | Top 10 Valero Texas Opens | Martin sees bigger picture at Valero Texas Open Palmer, at 10-under, surged into the lead with consecutive birdies midway through the back nine. Chappell, the 2017 tournament winner, had the day’s low round of 65. Frittelli also got away with no bogeys during his 66, and Kuchar shot 69 with four-straight birdies on the back. Palmer’s last TOUR win came in 2019. He took the lead with a 5-foot birdie putt at the par-5 14th. At 15 he converted another birdie putt inside 10 feet. “It’s a golf course, if you get it offline, you’re going to struggle,” Palmer said. “I was able to keep the ball in front of me. When I’ve missed fairways, I’ve gotten fortunate breaks, I think. So the weekend, it’s a matter of just avoiding those big misses.” Hideki Matsuyama withdrew after nine holes Friday with a sore neck, leaving early ahead of his Masters title defense next week. Defending champion Jordan Spieth was making a move, getting to 4-under for his round after a short birdie putt on his 14th hole. He was in good shape for par at the next after chipping to three feet away— where he three-putted. The double-bogey put him on the projected cut line, ultimately making the weekend by two shots at 2-under. It wasn’t as good for some other notable names. Bryson DeChambeau triple bogeyed the first hole and missed the cut. Rory McIlroy failed to break par in his two rounds and missed the cut. J.J. Spaun is in a group of players three shots back of Palmer. He led during the morning at 10-under when he dropped an 18-foot birdie at his 14th hole. He finished with three bogeys. “I’m still in a good position — there’s a lot of golf left,” Spaun said. “It got kind of tough with the finish, and two bad swings made me make a couple bogeys. Still happy to have a shot.” Those joining Spaun at 7-under include U.S. Open champions Lucas Glover (66) and Gary Woodland (67), Charles Howell III (67) and Brendon Todd (69). Kuchar bogeyed three of four holes in the middle of his round. Starting at the 14th, Kuchar made four-straight birdie putts of 10 feet or more. He said there was nothing special about the run. “I don’t think so — they fall where they fall and you never know,” he said. “You try to stay as positive as you can thinking they’ll fall at some point. You never know in a round of golf, and it’s nice that they fell at some point today.” Chappell’s only TOUR win came here five years ago. His 65 had no bogeys on the card. He eagled his 11th hole and finished with two birdies, a 17-footer on the finishing hole. “I just feel at ease around this place,” Chappell said. “My soul and this golf course get along. I really enjoy being here. I’m excited about where my game is because I’ve don’t think I played great yet. It’s not like the ball is coming out of the middle of the clubface every time and flying where I’m looking, but I’ve been able to scramble and get the ball in the hole.”

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What a fortnight for Houston-area sports fans! The Astros prevailed in the World Series in six games, one of which with a combined no-hitter. The parade is over but as the celebration continues, locals can extend their attention to this week’s Cadence Bank Houston Open just five miles west of Minute Maid Park. RELATED: Play Pick ‘Em Live | The First Look As Yordan Álvarez has proven, there isn’t a yard can that contain him, but Memorial Park Golf Course would present a respectable challenge to his brawn. The par 70 capable of stretching 7,412 yards hosts a field of 132. POWER RANKINGS: CADENCE BANK HOUSTON OPEN Hideki Matsuyama, Will Gordon, Luke List and David Lingmerth will be among the notables reviewed in Draws and Fades. In its first two years after returning as the host of the annual stop in Houston – it served as the site for 14 editions in the middle of the 20th century and not long after the tournament was launched in 1946 – Memorial Park has been the most challenging track of the fall. Last year’s field average of 70.799 reflected a slight ease, but it still slotted it a hair harder than Colonial Country Club among all par 70s in 2021-22, and recall that winds were gusting to 30 mph and stronger on the weekend in north Texas later in the season. Memorial Park is unusual as a par 70 in that its routing includes five par 3s and three par 5s. While most tracks new to most golfers present a reasonable test merely in the context of unfamiliarity, Memorial Park hasn’t conceded much despite budding relationships. Consider that all three of the par 5s ranked inside the top-40 hardest of 163 par 5s played all of last season. As a set, they slotted second-hardest, and that was after they tied for most challenging in the super season of 2020-21. So, having muscle to move it off the tee has merit, but actually capitalizing on the par 5s isn’t as much of an objective as it is not being beat up by them. Overall, Memorial Park is no joke, and the lushest of the bermuda rough is a fraction taller this year at 2½ inches. Bermuda greens still are ready to run up to 12 feet on the Stimpmeter, and they’re poised to defend as the stingiest in yielding par breakers on average from a season ago. Although the host course ranked a firm and fair T16 in greens in regulation among all courses, no other surrendered a lower conversion percentage for birdies and better with a putter in hand. Primary levers are pulled for course management and patience this week. Distance is a bonus, but only if harnessed. Putting plays up more than usual. After a couple of days with seasonable conditions, jackets and umbrellas will be commonplace by Saturday. Daytime temperatures could cool as much as 20 degrees with highs in the low 60s, if that, and the wind will freshen as rain is a coin flip. Things should calm a bit for the finale. ROB BOLTON’S SCHEDULE PGATOUR.com’s Rob Bolton recaps and previews every tournament from numerous perspectives. Look for his following contributions as scheduled. MONDAY: Power Rankings TUESDAY*: Sleepers, Draws & Fades WEDNESDAY: Pick ‘Em Preview SUNDAY: Payouts and Points, Medical Extensions, Qualifiers, Reshuffle, Rookie Ranking * – Rob is a member of the panel for PGATOUR.COM’s Expert Picks for PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf, which also publishes on Tuesday.

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