New season, different aims for McIlroy, Woods

Top golfer seeks grand slam, former great gunning for comeback

NAPA: Rory McIlroy seeking a third consecutive major triumph and Tiger Woods making his comeback from a nagging back injury will highlight the 2014-15 US PGA season that begins on Wednesday.

The next championship chase begins with the Frys.com Open at Silverado as American Jimmy Walker defends his title.

World number one McIlroy won back-to-back major titles at the British Open and PGA Championship last season, the third and fourth majors of his career. It sets the stage for the Northern Irishman to complete a career grand slam at the age of 25 with a victory next April at the Masters.

Woods, the 14-time major champion chasing the all-time record of 18 majors won by Jack Nicklaus, is expected to return in December at the Hero World Challenge event he hosts in Florida.

Woods, who turns 39 in December, missed most of last season after undergoing back surgery on March 31 and has not played since the PGA Championship in August as he works to strengthen his back.