The 15-time Major winner, who withdrew from last week’s Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines following the death of his mother Kultida, said at the TGL match in Florida this week that he hadn’t hit a ball since playing with President Donald Trump on February 9.
“I had a really hard time getting here and then reliving all the moments that we’ve had, my mom, how excited she was to have Charlie (his 16-year-old son) drive her here,” Woods said. “So those are some great moments and great memories. It’s been a hard process.”
Woods, who hasn’t played a tour event since missing the cut in The Open seven months ago, ruled out reappearing at next week’s Cognizant Classic.
“My goal was to play more and I haven’t played,” Woods said. “Got to work on that. This process was unexpected. I’ll get back after it and look forward to playing some bigger events.”
Refusing to commit to the Arnold Palmer Invitational or The Players, he added: “I really haven’t thought about golf. So I don’t think I’m going to be thinking about it for just a little bit here.”
World number two Schauffele, who has been out of action since The Sentry in January with a rib injury, does plan to be at Bay Hill from March 6-9.
“I want to get as many reps under the belt before the Masters,” Schauffele told Golfweek, adding that he was reluctant to come back too soon.
“I’ve been instructed to be patient and make sure I’m 100 pc.”
Pádraig Harrington, meanwhile, is the lone Irish challenger in the PGA Tour’s $7m Mexico Open at Vidanta Vallarta, where Aaron Rai (29th), Akshay Bhatia (30th), Rasmus Hojgaard (43rd) and Stephan Jaeger are the only members of the world’s top 50 taking part.
Rookie Conor Purcell (27) and Challenge Tour regular Dermot McElroy (31) are seeking their first DP World Tour wins in the Magical Kenya Open.
While he’s made the weekend in his last two starts to move up to 158th in the Race to Dubai, Purcell is still seeking his first sub-70 round this season.
As for Leona Maguire, the Co Cavan star (30) returned to action overnight in the Honda LPGA Thailand, looking to push on after finishing ninth and joint 19th in her first two starts this season.
Olivia Mehaffey tees it up in the Standard Bank Ladies Open hosted by The City of Cape Town at Durbanville Golf Club on the Sunshine Ladies Tour.
In Egypt, Hugh Foley, Robert Moran and Ronan Mullarney were four shots off the lead after opening with four-under 68s in the Alps Tour’s Ein Bay Open.
Honda LPGA Thailand, 6am
Kenya Open, 10am
Mexico Open, 3pm
(all live on Sky Sports)
