Tiger's Back! Again! At Torrey Pines! Again!

I know, I know we did this last year.

Things do feel different this time around at the Farmers Insurance Open given Woods' play at December's Hero World Challenge, his many social rounds (compared to last year) and the likelihood that his back will hold up better post-fusion surgery. 

I'm bullish on both Tiger and Phil giving us one last run, if nothing else because golf has supported the older player from time to time.  Plus we just want to see a good old fashioned generational clash.

Eamon Lynch of Golfweek talks to Hank Haney and Claude Harmon III about their bullish takes on this Tiger turnaround.

Jaime Diaz of Golf Channel files this video essay on the Woods comeback, followed by a chat with Tim Rosaforte and Matt Adams on Golf Central.

The Golf.com gang kicked the topic of the big return in this week's Confidential, and while all of it is good reading, this from John Wood, caddie for Matt Kuchar, really hit home at some key points:

It's important, but I have to believe he's viewing it as a stepping stone rather than a final destination. Would he like to play well, feel healthy, get in the hunt? Absolutely. But if he doesn't, I think he'll have a good idea where he is on Monday. To my eye he looked fantastic in the Bahamas. Healthy and swinging athletically, happy and confident. The interesting thing to me will be the early morning start times. Heat and humidity tend to be a great way to play with any injury that needs testing. Those La Jolla mornings can be quite cool and foggy, and it takes some time to get the gears moving and stay moving like you'd like them to. I'm quite sure Tiger has planned for this, though. He's worked too hard to get back to this point to leave any stone unturned.

Ahead of Woods' return to, BetDSI Sportsbook posted odds that seem a tad conflicted, with a mix of options for those who see another shaky return and for those who see a successful 2018 debut. ESPN.com's Jason Sobel in his weekly notes is putting Tiger down for a T14, a number I think is about right.

Will Tiger Woods make the cut at 2018 Farmers Insurance Open?

Yes +110

No -140

Will Tiger Woods withdraw during 2018 Farmers Insurance Open?

Yes +450

No -700

Will Tiger Woods finish in the top 5 at 2018 Farmers Insurance Open?

Yes +750

No -1000

Will Tiger Woods finish in the top 10 at 2018 Farmers Insurance Open?

Yes +350

No -550

Will Tigers Woods hit fairway on opening tee shot (1st Round) of 2018 Farmers Insurance Open?

Yes -180

No +145

How many birdies will Tiger Woods record during 2018 Farmers Insurance Open?

Over 6.5 (-110)

Under 6.5 (-120)

How many bogeys or worse will Tiger Woods record during 2018 Farmers Insurance Open?

Over 7.5 (-130)

Under 7.5 (+100)

Tiger Woods highest score on any hole during 2018 Farmers Insurance Open

Over 7 (-130)

Under 7 (+100)

Tiger Woods lowest round score (18 holes) on North Course during 2018 Farmers Insurance Open 

Over 70.5 (-140) 

Under 70.5 (+110)

Tiger Woods lowest round score (18 holes) on South Course during 2018 Farmers Insurance Open

Over 73.5 (-115)

Under 73.5 (-115)

Tiger Woods finishing position at 2018 Farmers Insurance Open

1st (+4000)

2nd-10th (+2000)

11th-19th (+1100)

20th-30th (+750)

31st-40th (+400)

41st-50th (+350)

51st or worse (-140)

Will Tiger Woods win a major prior to January 1, 2019?

Yes +3000

No -7000

Will Tiger Woods win a PGA Tour/European Tour event prior to January 1, 2019?

Yes +1700

No -4000

How many cuts will Tiger Woods make during 2018 calendar year? (minimum playing field of 100)

Over 4.5 (-120) 

Under 4.5 (-110)

Will Tiger Woods shoot 80 or worse in a round in 2018?

Yes -130

No +100

Will Tiger Woods shoot 64 or better in a round in 2018?

Yes +100

No -130

And if you're already Tiger'd out, the Farmers offers a fine field. Gary Williams and I considered some of the other notables today on Morning Drive.

Comments

[JWB]

Maybe I'm bullish because I was born in '90 during the "Tiger vs. The World" days but +$1,700 to win in 2018 seems like pretty good odds to me. I would take the Big Cat on that one!!

[John]

I'd be your bookie for that one, JWB. I'd even give you +1800 as a courtesy.

[Hawkeye]

As good as he looked in Bahamas, I’d be shocked if he makes the cut.

[D. maculata]

A healthy Tiger will hit great shots. The big question for me will be how well he manages the bleeding when it occurs.

[Brandon]

@ D. maculata +1. That's been the big thing. Adversity is going to come. And when it does, will the limp/grimace appear? Bigger question is the short game.

[FC]

Let's wait and see again. I'm pumped.

[Johnnnycz]

This again?? His 3r or 4th comback from self induced exile? At the same ole same ole courses to boot. Nothing new here.

(Zzzzz)

Now...if he teed it up in Honolulu or last week in front of a gazillion imbibers and a few Ams in his group...then THAT would be news.

[Matt]

Loved Tiger's comments about the ball and bifurcation:

“I am of the opinion that we should bifurcate. The line of demarcation, in my opinion, should be professional and amateur. That's it. If you play in a pro member, the pro has got to play this other ball, the pro ball. If you're an amateur, you can play the most juiced up golf ball, just go hit and go find it. I think that amateur golf, we can actually push the limits with everything if not get rid of the limits, right. Let them go have fun. Let them enjoy it. Let them — we're trying to bring more people into the game of golf. Let them go ahead and enjoy hitting it further and straighter.

“But professional ranks, it's like a different deal. It's like going from aluminum in little league and college to when you turn pro and go into A, AA and AAA and obviously the bigs, it's all wood. That's just the way it is. The rules are bifurcated for them. There's no reason why we can't do it for us. Now, then that goes back to do you standardize the golf ball at the pro level, and this is where it's kind of tricky because each manufacturer is going to say, no, you can't, because they want to produce their own golf ball. But you can probably change dimple patterns to make them a little bit deeper, a little bit smaller. You can soften up the cover, obviously soften of the core, make it slower, and you can bring the ball back.”

[D. maculata]

I don't believe that's what we'll see, Brandon. Tiger is, or should be, well past the point of being embarrassed enough that a WD would posit whether he's injured. After all, he's run the gamut from serial philanderer to obliterated motorist. What I'm talking about is what happens to every player of certain age. And it doesn't matter how great they were in their prime. We know the networks are praying they can relive the glory days of ratings, meaning this year, probably 75% of the telecast will be dedicated to following Tiger. Even if he's on his way to posting a 74 and flirting with the cut. After the initial curiosity subsides, viewing for hard core fans will take on the form of torture. And they won't care a lick because it's a demographic taken for granted. The media won't be much better, as evidenced by our host taking a bullish stance on his season. In their heart of heats they envision a Nicklaus '86 moment, which brings us to this:

With his intimidation factor consigned to history, will the stars align as they did for Nicklaus? Will Spieth be there to dump one in the water again, like Seve? Will DJ blow his approach 20-rows deep on the 72nd hole playing the role of Norman? Will Rahm miss a putt on the 18th green but instead of doubling over in anguish like kite, snap his putter in a fit of rage? The odds boggle the mind.

[nancy]

For me it doesn't matter if Tiger wins at Farmers...I do hope he doesn't have an injury and has to default; but we all know we will watch anyway...we will watch because of Tiger whatever happens, Tiger won't quit...he'll figure something out and we will watch again.

[Guy Fieri's Stomach]

Tiger can definitely win again; he's a tour player and will be able to enter as often as he wants as long as he's healthy. But he's basically a journeyman at this point, regarding the expectation of his performance.

[Shivas]

Tiger is going to do just fine and surprise a lot of people ... until he gets in contention in a major. Then his chip yips and lost putting touch will resurface. It's all about nerves with him and his are shot.

[Sari]

Shivas:

Yes, that is the real question. Everyone’s nerves go at some point, and lord knows Tiger is an “old” 42.