Tiger Woods misses cut at PGA Championship, commits to play next week

Steve DiMeglio | USA TODAY Sports

Show Caption Hide Caption Weather delays round 2 of the PGA Championship USA Today Sports' Steve DiMeglio reports from Whistling Straits on how the round 2 weather delay will affect the leaderboard at the PGA Championship.

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. – Tiger Woods' PGA Championship is over, but his season will continue.

In a surprise, Woods committed Friday to next week's Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, N.C., the last chance for players to earn enough points to get into the FedExCup Playoffs. Woods has never played in the tournament and would likely need to finish no worse than second next week to make it to the playoffs.

That would require a quick reversal of his play. He shot a 1-over 73 in the second round to finish the tournament at Whistling Straits 4-over, two back of the projected cut line.

Much like the entire 2015 season, Woods never got anything going this week. He could never marry the speed of the greens with his putter in the first round. So far through the second round, he's hit far too many errant shots, whether with a driver, 5-iron or wedge.

It's been a second lost year in a row for Woods. At times this season he looked lost. He looked horrifying chipping the ball before fixing that part of his game. He also looked disinterested at times, and looked much older than the 39 years he's been on this Earth.

The missed cut means in 10 starts this season, Woods would have four missed cuts, one withdrawal, three rounds in the 80s and a best finish being a tie for 17th in the Masters.

The man who has been world No. 1 for more weeks than anyone has fallen to No. 278 in the world rankings and will fall further.

He hasn't won since the 2013 World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational. But he remains steadfast in his new swing, although he sounds like he's lowered his expectations.

In his heyday he knew he would contend. Today, he's trying to contend.

"I'm just trying to get better," Woods said earlier this week. "I'm just trying to get up there where I can win tournaments, get my game organized so I can be consistent on a tournament basis where I'm going to give myself a chance to win each and every event I play in. That's what I have done over most of my career. And I'd like to get to that point again where I could do that."

If he doesn't start doing that quickly – like next week – his season will be over. He would next play in the 2015-16 season opener in the Frys.com Open in October. That would give him nearly two months to continue getting his game, his mind and body in order.

In doing so, Woods can look to the man he's chasing for some inspiration – Jack Nicklaus. The Golden Bear was 39 when he had one of his worst seasons in 1979 – in 12 starts he didn't win, the first time he went without a victory on the PGA Tour since turning professional in 1961. He had but one top-3 finish.

In the offseason, Nicklaus said he barely touched a club. As he turned 40 in January of 1980, he went to his long-time instructor, Jack Grout, and got back to the basics. The grip, the stance, the takeaway, the follow through. Nicklaus made a few changes, including flattening his swing. He also went to short-game guru Phil Rodgers to add some more arsenal to his game.

At 40, Jack won the U.S. Open and PGA Championship. At 46, he won the Masters for his 18th and last major triumph.

"It took me four or five months but I got my game back," Nicklaus said.

It could be a tougher climb for Woods when he turns 40 on Dec. 30. He's had four surgeries on his left knee, two on his back. He's also dealt with ailments to his neck, wrist and Achilles. The sex scandal in 2009 wounded his image and damaged his psyche.

Since the scandal he's won eight times on the PGA Tour, but no majors and no wins for more than two years now. While there are other things pulling at him these days – he adores his two children and he has other interests off the golf course, including a new restaurant, his charitable foundation and his golf course design business – Woods says he's committed to his golf.

He says he's healthy. He says he's confident he can compete again on a regular basis. He says he will win again.

Time will tell.

PHOTOS: Best of the PGA Championship