Tiger Woods lines up hectic early-season schedule

Tiger Woods, who tees it up in the Farmers Insurance Open this week in his first regular-season event in 17 months, told reporters he is eager to get back to work with a busy early schedule.

Woods is scheduled play four times in five weeks.

After the Farmers at Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, Calif., Woods will play the Omega Dubai Desert Classic (Feb. 2-5), the Genesis Open (Feb. 16-19) and the Honda Classic (Feb. 23-26).

Woods' news conference on Monday was held on behalf of the Genesis Open, a tournament which will benefit his foundation. The Genesis Open will be held at Riviera Country Club.

Woods played at last month's Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas and finished 15th, but that event was unofficial.

This week, Woods will be on familiar ground at Torrey Pines, a course where he has won eight times as a pro, including the 2008 U.S. Open, the last of his 14 majors.

"Eight times, and one as a junior, so technically nine. I like that place," Woods told reporters Monday.

The road to Augusta and the Masters begins now for Woods, who tied for 10th in the Wyndham Championship in his last regular-season event in August 2015.

Woods said he is looking forward to the busy schedule to start the year.

"That is a concern (playing so much), there's no doubt about it," Woods said. "But I'm also looking forward to it. I've sat out long enough."

Woods, who turned 41 on Dec. 30, underwent the last two of his three back surgeries since that last official tournament in 2015.

"I feel like I'm strong enough to handle the workload, but I still have to go out there and do it," Woods said.

"I've played a lot. I've been playing 4-5 times a week, played over the holidays down in the Bahamas. I had a really nice time preparing for this event."

Woods then turned his attention to the Masters, where he has not won in 12 years. He won the Masters in 2005 when he was 29.

"I've been thinking about it," Woods said. "Once the season ends, typically, in the fall, I start thinking about what I need to do to get ready for Augusta. I've done it for 20 years. Whether it's equipment or it's swing or whatever it is, in the back of my head I'm getting ready for Augusta."