JACKSONVILLE, Florida - Barring any scheduling surprises, Tiger Woods is about to try something new.

JACKSONVILLE, Florida - Barring any scheduling surprises, Tiger Woods is about to try something new.

He had played three weeks in a row on the US PGA Tour in every season since he was a rookie until last year, when two knee surgeries disrupted his schedule. But that third consecutive tournament has never been a major.

This year looks like it will be different. Woods decided to play this week at the Buick Open, where he is a two-time winner and has never finished worse than 11th in eight previous starts at Warwick Hills.

Next week is the Bridgestone Invitational, and while Woods has yet to make that official, he has never missed a World Golf Championship in the US when he wasn't injured. Besides, he is a six-time winner at Firestone, one of his favourite golf courses.

Then it's off to Hazeltine for the US PGA Championship, his last shot at winning a major this year. - Sapa