TIGER

Well if you haven't heard already, he's back.  He's been back for two days.  Tiger Woods came out and went birdie-eagle in his first two holes of match play at the WGC at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Marana, Arizona.  On a side note, those of us at The University of Arizona used to refer to the people from Marana as T-Loc's, short for Tucson locals.  They take on a personality one wouldn't believe.  Back to Woods.  He opened up his round against the 64th ranked player in the world, the Australian Brendan Jones.  What a daunting task to play against the guy who is the most talked about golfer in the entire world, and this is his comeback after miraculously winning the 2008 U.S. Open on a disintegrated left knee.  The gallery perhaps had a few more people in it than normal.  

Woods looked good.  I've made it a point to watch every tournament this year (thanks to the glorious Golf Channel), and I was eager to see the media-hyped return of Eldrick.  The critics are right.  His knee does look stronger than at his peak before the injury.  I think this could strengthen him more than hinder him,  allowing him to pulverize drives 380-yards, and hitting 180-yard sand wedges.  As expected his short game could use more work, but that's what happens when you haven't played for over 6 months.  From my recliner, he was turning and connecting with ease.  He did have quite a few missed fairways and greens, but this was a great opportunity to release him back to the wild of competitive golf.  As we know, he lost in his second round to Tim Clark, but I say hey, that's the beauty about the game of golf.  Even the #1 player in the world is beatable if you get hot.  And Clark certainly did, birdieing holes 11, 12, and 13 to take him 3 up with 5 to play.  Woods simply couldn't answer that birdie run and lost on the 16th when Clark birdied to win 4 & 2.  

So where does Tiger go after this?  I say you better get his green jacket sized up because I believe he will make a run at the Master's.  Don't count out the other majors either, to possibly win the grand slam of golf all in one year.  It's a daunting task I know, but Tiger is up to it, and I know it will happen sooner or later.  Why not this year?  He's worked hard, now has two children at home, and feels better than ever.  Once the flat stick starts to drain putts from unthinkable spots on the green, players better be on their guard.  His 2009 schedule is still up in the air, but you already know he's punched his card to play at Augusta come April.  I can't wait and neither can you.