Honda Classic is waiting for word on Tiger Woods

Just like everybody else in the golf world, the Honda Classic waits to see how Tiger Woods is doing health-wise.

As of Monday, the word is that there is no word on how Woods is recuperating from his back problems.

The Honda tournament has a vested interest in his quick recovery.

Honda executive director Ken Kennerly would like nothing better than to have Woods be well enough to play in the Honda tournament February 28-March 1 on the Champion Course at PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens.

Last week, Tiger withdrew from the Farmers Insurance Open because of his ailing back.

“It’s wait and see, frankly,” Kennerly said Thursday. “We certainly know he wants to play. And we know what he is going through is not fun.”

In the world rankings, Woods dropped to 62nd on Monday after his withdrawal at the Farmers.

For Woods, the chance of him playing in the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship at Doral is getting slimmer and slimmer. In order for him to get into the Doral field, he has to move into the top 50 in the world rankings, an unlikely possibility.

In the PGA tournament before the Farmers, the Waste Management Phoenix Open, Woods had the worst round of his PGA career, an 82 in the second round that included a nine of 44. He missed the cut by 12 strokes.

Even without Woods, the Honda has an attractive field, including world No. 1 Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, Justin Rose and Keegan Bradley among the entrants that have been confirmed.

Russell Henley is the defending Honda champion after winning a four-way playoff last year to notch his first PGA Tour victory.

Henley called Honda “a special tournament and special week” for him.

The Champion Course has been upgraded with new fairway and tee box grass, and the 14th hole has been re-done.

CRATER ON COURSE

The just-concluded Allianz Championship had record attendance according to tournament director Ryan Dillon, although he is still awaiting the exact figures.

The luckiest of the fans in attendance were those surrounding the 18th green who got to see Bart Bryant make a rare double-eagle on the 507-yard hole by putting a 195-yard shot into the hole with a 3-iron during Saturday’s second round.

Even eventual winner Paul Goydos tipped his golf cap to Bryant’s double-eagle.

“It was like the tournament had ended. It was eerily silent. It was like the bomb went off, and all that was left was a crater.

“Good for him. It’s kind of good to see. It was really a kind of twilight zone.”

THAT’S A FACT, JACK

Jack Nicklaus turned 75 on January 21.

He doesn’t play a lot of golf lately, but he does admit to one wish: more clubhead speed when he does play.

“I’m at about 92-93 miles per hour,” Nicklaus said of his swing speed. “It’s like I still have a headcover on it.”

This story was originally published February 9, 2015 at 6:52 PM with the headline "Honda Classic is waiting for word on Tiger Woods."