Tiger Woods Joins the Genesis Field With a Heavy Heart. We've Seen This Before.

Tiger Woods will play with a heavy heart at next week’s Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines.

Woods officially committed on Friday to the event that benefits his TGR foundation. He’ll tee it up just nine days after the passing of his mother, Kultida. That Woods is playing speaks to his dedication to the event and its mission. It’s a major boost for an event that was upended by the Los Angeles wildfires which ravaged Pacific Palisades and forced the tournament to move from Riviera to Torrey Pines.

This will also mark Woods’ first start since he underwent a microdecompression surgery to relieve a nerve impingement on his back on Sept 12.

It’s not the first time Woods has played through grief. At the 2006 U.S. Open, shortly after the death of his father Earl, he missed his first cut in a major championship as a professional. Later that summer he famously won the 2006 Open Championship broke down in tears as he hugged caddie Steve Williams after the final putt dropped. His father was on his mind.

Woods has not played since missing the cut at the Open Championship at Royal Troon in July. He was present in the Bahamas and served as host for the Hero World Challenge but did not tee it up in competition. He has played in two TGL competitions in the last few weeks.

Woods has won eight times at Torrey Pines: seven Farmers Insurance Opens and the 2008 U.S. Open. Given the circumstances and the long injury layoff, expectations are essentially nonexistent. Still, having Woods in the field elevates any golf tournament to a whole new level.