Guessing at Tiger's Playing Schedule

The news that Tiger might be gambling in THE PLAYERS -- Tiger tweeted that out on Friday -- has absolutely everyone excited. It's also got parents wondering what his schedule may look like going ahead.

Actually, if past history is any indication, we can make a pretty good guess which events he's most likely to play. Looking back at the last 10 years or so, Tiger usually plays 3 tournaments between the Masters and the US Open when he's healthy .

Next week is the WGC-Cadillac Match Play. We recognise Tiger won't be there because he's presently ranked at 106.

The following week (May 7 - 10) is THE PLAYERS. We know that's his next appearance, and when healthy he has played this event since it moved between the Masters and the US Open. This is typically the first of his 3 events.

The next few tournaments seem like this:

• May 14 - 17 is the Wells Fargo Championship. Tiger routinely plays here (last time in 2012) and I won't be surprised if he shows up this year. I think this will be his second event.
• May 21 - 24 is the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. I don't know if Tiger has ever played this event.
• May 28 - 31 is the AT&T Byron Nelson Championship. Tiger last played this event in 2005.
• June 4 - 7 is the Memorial Tournament. Jack has already said that he talked to Tiger and the Big Cat said he intends to play. This isn't surprising because it's usually the last event he plays before the US Open. That likely makes this his third event.
• June 11 - 14 is the FedEx St. Jude Classic. I don't think Tiger has ever played there and I have trouble believing he'll show up there this time.

And the next week is the US Open. Tiger is pre-qualified because he has won the US Open within the last 10 years (2008) and THE PLAYERS within the last 3 (2013). We KNOW he'll be there!

Will Tiger add some "atypical" appearances? That's a good question since he needs to get his world ranking up in order to make it into the WGC events later this year. If he plays well at the 3 events I expect him to play before the US Open, that probably won't be an issue. But if he adds an event, history indicates it will probably be the AT&T Byron Nelson Championship.

So that's what we're looking at right now. Probably 3 events before the US Open -- THE PLAYERS, the Wells Fargo, and the Memorial -- with a possibility that he'll add the Byron Nelson if he feels he needs either more world ranking points or more tournament reps.