Tiger is back, day to defend

Tiger Woods resumes playing this week in California. Image: Getty

Tiger Woods makes its first wave appearance of 2019 in Torrey Pines this week in California, but it is also a big week for Jason Day, which defends the Farmers Insurance Open he won last year.

Woods & # 39; has won eight times at Torrey Pines, including his most recent major championship, the 2008 US Open,

He admits it's a course & # 39; I've always loved it, because he had attended his very first PGA Tour event with his father Earl here as a boy.

"Jordan (Spieth) asked me while we were playing:" How long have you come here? "And I said:" Well, ten years longer than you've lived ", & # 39; & # 39; a cheerful Woods told the media today in San Diego.

This time last year Woods still played and he still felt his way after his heavy back operation. A year later he returned to the winners list with his famous victory at the Tour Championship. "Totally different," he said. "I know what my body can and can not do … Last year … it was like I was targeting a moving target.This year I have a better understanding of what I can not do.There is not that uncertainty that I have to go to last year. went. & # 39;

How he takes the form in 2019 as the biggest story in golf, while he continues to chase the big records – the 18 big championships of Jack Nicklaus (he has 14) and the 82 tour wins of Sam Snead (he is 80). But he has trained hard in the off-season to prepare his body because he was faded at the Ryder Cup by fatigue at the end of 2018.

"My legs are where they should be, what they were not at the end of last season," he said.

As far as Australia & # 39; s Day is concerned, he is very enthusiastic about something he has never done before: defend a title that he possesses. "It is clear that I have had some success here, and I am enthusiastic about that and the memories that go with it," he said today. "But I am also very excited to see where my game is, not only against the best players in the world, but also where I need to improve parts of my game for the rest of the season."

Day said Woods' feted appearance removed some of the stress from its own preparation. "That takes a lot of pressure from my shoulders to know that I can walk around and do my job and get out of here, do not emphasize too much."

Adam Scott is also in Torrey on the field and today demonstrates a new putting method – the Matt Kucher style with the putteras entwined in his left arm.