Tiger Woods to scout Valhalla Golf Club ahead of 2024 PGA Championship

Tiger Woods will play in his 23rd PGA Championship in two weeks, thanks to an exemption as a former champion of the event. The tournament will also mark his third official start at Valhalla Golf Club, a course known for its challenging layout and rich history of hosting major golf events. As Woods prepares for the event, he will be scouting Valhalla Golf Club in advance to fine-tune his game and gain an edge over his competitors.

Tiger Woods has been vocal about his intention to maintain a monthly tournament schedule going forward, a decision influenced by his health concerns. That includes playing in all four of the season’s majors, one each month between April and July. Having already played the Masters Tournament in April, he is now preparing for the PGA Championship in May. In June, thanks to a special invitation, he will grace the field at the U.S. Open, and in July, he will close out the major season at The Open Championship at Royal Troon.

Scouting Valhalla: A Strategic Tiger Woods’ Move

Tiger Woods‘ strategic move is interesting because it provides a glimpse into the meticulous preparation that goes into each of his tournaments. Designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened in 1986, Valhalla Golf Club is a par-72 course that plays to 7,458 yards. Its rating is 76.4 and its slope is 148. The course record has been held by Jose María Olazabal since 2000 (63).

Woods has had a mixed bag of experiences at Valhalla. He first played at Valhalla Golf Club in an official event in 2000, which happened to be the PGA Championship. Woods emerged victorious with a score of 18-under 270, defeating Bob May in a playoff. This victory marked the successful defense of his title, which he had won in 1999. It was also the third major title of his career.

However, his return to Valhalla 14 years later for the PGA Championship painted a different picture. Woods could only manage two rounds of 74 and missed the cut. Despite this setback, his overall performance at the PGA Championship has been commendable, with four wins, three runner-up finishes and two other top-10s in 22 editions.

Curiously, his two victories in the PGA Championship have come in consecutive editions. He won in 1999 and 2000, and then in 2006 and 2007. Only Woods and Brooks Koepka have successfully defended the PGA Championship title (Koepka did it by winning in 2018 and 2019).

As Woods prepares to scout Valhalla Golf Club, the golf world is watching with bated breath. Will Tiger Woods be able to conquer Valhalla once again? Only time will tell.