Capelle On Golf

I’m about to reveal Tiger Woods’ Confidential 2008 PGA Tour Schedule, one so secret that even his fans can’t find it on his web site. According to tigerwoods.com his Complete Schedule consists of the tournaments in blue on the list below. The ever cagy Woods has refused to announce that he’ll be playing in Arnold Palmer’s event – for the twelfth straight year. And he has yet to reveal that he’ll be teeing it up at The PLAYERS – again for the twelfth straight year. But you and I know better thanks to my anonymous sources deep within golf’s inner sanctum.

In 2006 when his father, Earl Woods, passed away, Tiger discovered that he could win more by playing less often. He took this approach again in 2007 and it worked magnificently. Besides, it allows Tiger to stay at home more often where he can practice on those deficiencies in his game he’s always talking about, and it gives him more time to nest with Elin and daughter Sam. As a result, his schedule is now very predictable. Gone are any forays into strange towns that don’t fit with his super downsized program.

Though he’s very much his own man, Tiger’s schedule is largely made up for him in advance by the PGA Tour thanks to the advent of the World Golf Championships and the Fed ExCup events. Throw in The PLAYERS and the four majors and that comes to about 11-12 events. Add in four or five of his perennial favorites and you’re at about 16 events, which seem to be his new limit.

It would be great for golf if Tiger returned to an 18-20 event schedule, even if these extra appearances lowered his winning percentage. Just by showing up and playing in a trio of different towns every year Woods could do wonders for certain events, such as this week’s PODs Championship, which is about to lose its sponsor. But Tiger’s become very much a creature of habit, so that’s not going to happen.

Tiger seems committed to a shorter season now, so he should at least announce his complete schedule on his web site, which is supposed to keeping his fans abreast of all things Woods. I mean, what’s up with announcing that he’s going to play at Doral and Firestone, but not at Sawgrass, Bay Hill, Muirfield, and the Tour Championship? Thanks to your intrepid investigative reporter, you now know the truth - that he’s going to play in all of them, and several more to boot (big secret!). And there is one other big consideration for the admittedly naive Tiger fan; his reported schedule could keep these fans from taking time off or traveling to a certain event to see him play because it’s not on his schedule. In short, Tiger should publish his true complete schedule, then remove a tournament or two later should he be forced to cancel.

Tiger Woods’ 2008 PGA Tour Schedule
1 Buick Inv. (Jan. 24-27)– Won - A perennial favorite. Won the last four.
2 WGC – Acc. (Feb.20-24) – Won – Played in nine of 10, won three
3 Arnold Palmer Inv. (Mar. 13-16) – Paying homage to the King. Tiger won four in a row, but has since suffered through four poor showings
4 WGC – CA (Mar. 20-23) – Loves this limited field event. Won six of eight.
5 Masters (Apr. 10-13) – Major
6 Wachovia Ch. (May 1-4) – Likes the course at this five year old event, and is the defending champion.
7 The PLAYERS (May 8-11) – A semi-mandatory event that he’s won just once in 11 tires.
8 The Memorial (May 29-June1) – Paying homage to the Golden Bear, he’s won three of 10, but zero for last five.
9 U.S. Open (June 12-15 )- Major
10 ATT National (July 3-6) – Tiger’s own event, it pays tribute to veterans.
11 British Open (July 17-20)- Major
12 WGC – Bridgestone (July 31-Aug.3) – Won six of nine at Firestone C.C. including the last three.
13 PGA Championship (Aug. 7-10) - Major
14 Deutsche Bank (Aug. 28- Sept. 1) – He’s played the last five years. W, 2t the last 2 years. Benefits his foundation.
15 BMW Championship (Sept. 4-7) – Formerly the Western Open, he’s never missed it. At Bellerive C.C. this year.
16 Tour Championship (Sept. 25-28) – The grand finale to the FedExCup and another $10 million.

The Wild Cards
I swear by my sources. Still, nothing is for certain in this world. Perhaps Tiger might read this and say, “I’ll show that guy. I’m not that predicable.” Too bad, I’m one step ahead. Below are all possible deviations from the above.
The Buick Open
Tiger might play in the Buick Open because he’s a Buick spokesperson. However, though he was the defending champion, he missed last year’s event after playing in five straight. Furthermore, his own event, the ATT National, is played on the following week.
The Barclays
Tiger played three times in the Barclays Classic when it was held at Westchester C.C. without cracking the top 10. Now that the event has been moved to the Ridgewood C.C. in Paramus, New Jersey, perhaps he’ll opt to play in all four FedExCup events. If he did, however, that would mean playing seven times in nine weeks, which is not likely. He might also add the Barclays and drop the BMW Championship.