I think Paul was 9th last year and something similar in 2018-2019 so not his best event. . so why even play?
Most elite athletes have extended offseasons. If you want to be your best in October, you probably can't leave it all out on the course in February, especially as you get older. Spring Training doesn't start until March for good reason.
This is the privilege of having a massive sponsorship -- you can pick your battles, chasing major titles instead of blowing your load trying to make a payday in the middle of winter.