Tiger returns to SoCal

9/27/2020

Tiger Woods by myophoto is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0

Defending ZOZO champion looks to break all-time wins record at Sherwood

Southern California golf fans looking to get a glimpse of Tiger Woods playing in our backyard won’t have to wait until January like usual, as the SoCal native and 15-time major championship winner has committed to play in the ZOZO Championship @ Sherwood on October 22-25.

The inaugural ZOZO Championship was held in Japan last year and featured Woods’ record-tying 82nd career PGA Tour victory. Due to challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, the tournament will be held temporarily this year at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks.

And that’s not a bad thing for Woods.

He’ll defend his title and look to pass Sam Snead for the all-time mark in PGA Tour victories at a course where he has won five times. Woods hosted his limited-field World Challenge event at Sherwood the week after Thanksgiving from 2000-2013 and took home the trophy 2001, ’04, ’06, ’07 and ’11.

I am excited to defend my title at the @zozochamp. It is disappointing that we will not be able to play in Japan this year, but Sherwood Country Club will be a great backdrop for what I know will be a great Championship. pic.twitter.com/bSvApTd4uD
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) September 23, 2020

Woods made his commitment official on September 23, on Twitter, of course.

“I am excited to defend my title at the @zozochamp,” he tweeted. “It is disappointing that we will not be able to play in Japan this year, but Sherwood Country Club will be a great backdrop for what I know will be a great Championship.”

The $8 million event will feature 78 professionals, including some of the biggest names in the game, leading players from the 2019-20 FedExCup points list, players designated by the Japan Golf Tour Organization and sponsor exemptions.

No official announcement has been made about whether fans will be permitted, but the tournament’s website does not list tickets for sale, and no PGA Tour event in the U.S. has hosted fans since March. Limited volunteer positions are available, however, for those who want to do more than watch the event on TV.

Woods has had an uneventful year since winning in Japan last October. His only other top-10 finish last season was a T9 at the Farmers Insurance Open. He tied for 37th at the PGA Championship, failed to qualify for the Tour Championship and missed the cut at the U.S. Open. He will defend his title at the COVID-delayed Masters in November.

In addition to Tiger’s event, Sherwood has played host to a number of other professional tournaments. Opened in 1989, the club has hosted Greg Norman’s Shark Shootout, the made-for-TV Showdown at Sherwood and an event on the PGA TOUR Champions circuit for the last four years.

“Sherwood Country Club and its Members are honored to host this year’s ZOZO Championship @ Sherwood and welcome golf’s greatest players as our guests for the week,” Rob Oosterhuis, PGA General Manager and CEO of Sherwood Country Club said in a press release. “Sherwood’s scenic Jack Nicklaus Signature design will provide an exceptional background for a memorable week of golf during an unforgettable time.”