Tiger Woods is preparing for a journey into the unknown as he heads into this week's PGA Championship hunting for a 16th major championship against the surreal backdrop of a deserted course at TPC Harding Park. Throughout his career, the former World No. 1 has become accustomed to roaring galleries following his every shot, providing a jolt of energy that Woods has fed off time and again. Yet this week's PGA Championship in San Francisco will be different.

Restrictions imposed due to COVID-19 mean that the first major of 2020 will be a fan-free, muted affair. Woods got an early taste of his changed environment on Tuesday during a media briefing. Where in the past, a scrum of reporters would have attended. On Tuesday, only a handful of journalists were present. "Well, that's an unknown," Woods said when asked about how the absence of fans might affect his chances.