Tiger Woods played all of nine rounds of golf in three majors in 2022 and hasn’t played in a PGA event since 2020. Still, that was more than plenty to ensure that he wins the Player Impact Program (PIP) for the second-straight year, according to Rory McIlroy.
McIlroy, who is ranked as the No. 1 golfer in the world, told the Associated Press that Woods had locked down the victory.
“Hey, I gave him a pretty good run,” McIlroy said, telling. the AP that he finished No. 2 in the PIP rankings.
Woods won the inaugural version in March after Phil Mickelson had previously tweeted that he’d already won the year-long PIP, which the PGA Tour created to reward players who bring the most interest to the game. However, despite the fact that Woods hadn’t played in an official PGA event in a year and a half, he was named the winner thanks to the power of his brand and name.
That appears to have given him the victory this time around as well. While the inaugural PIP ran through Dec. 31 and wasn’t awarded until March, the PIP measurement period was adjusted to be Oct. 1 through Sept. 3. The results will be officially released in November.
Tiger Woods is going to win the PIP while he’s been cleaning his son’s clubs in his junior golf tournaments.
Guy can do no wrong on the golf course. pic.twitter.com/QbbtfDIT9Z
— Fore Play (@ForePlayPod) November 8, 2022
Tiger Woods won the PGA Tour's PIP program for the second straight year in 2022, per @dougferguson405.
He hasn't competed in a PGA Tour event since October 25, 2020.
It's good to be king. pic.twitter.com/jbgdAKBdIm
— James Colgan (@jamescolgan26) November 8, 2022
According to the @AP, @TigerWoods has won the @PGATOUR’s 2022 Player Impact Program (PIP) 👀💰 pic.twitter.com/oWrCJu25Pq
— Caddie Network (@CaddieNetwork) November 8, 2022
Woods may not be able to win the PIP for a third time next year as the qualifications are changing. Players will be required to play at least 20 events next year, including 12 “elevated” tournaments. We’ll have to see if Woods’ body allows him that opportunity.
[AP]
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.