Tiger returns!

The fears of the PGA have been swayed. Tiger Woods has announced a return to golf competition at the Masters at Augusta this year. With the return of the king, golf will retain all the gains he has created for them.

Ok, more seriously, Woods being back in golf does mean a return of television ratings and thus more money for the PGA and all the players. That's just a fact. The biggest fear the PGA had was the retirement of Woods or an extended leave. That now being releieved, well the gravy is back.

Woods stated so far

"The Masters is where I won my first major and I view this tournament with great respect. After a long and necessary time away from the game, I feel like I'm ready to start my season at Augusta.

The major championships have always been a special focus in my career and, as a professional, I think Augusta is where I need to be, even though it's been a while since I last played."

So Woods is going to go for another jacket. And if he gets it, he can shut up the guaranteed comments from commentators about how it all has affected his game, ect.

But you have to imagine that the time off, the problems with his family, the media attention (negative that is), all of it has to have some effect on him. He may play golf at the peak of mortal ability, but he isn't superhuman.

So how might Tiger Woods do at the Masters? He could miss the cut completely. Which would drive a huge number of tabloid specualtions about the state of his marriage and his sponsorship deals. He could come in the middle of the pack. Which would result in much of the same, with more focus on his sponsors and a bit of sympathy from some sportswriters. Or Tiger could rally hard, maybe even lead all the way, and win again.

That would be spectacular. Ratings for golf would skyrocket again. Sponsors would flock back to Woods. The top pros would be intimidated like never before, worse than when Tiger first showed up and beat them all almost without trying.

What are the odds of that happening? Who knows. When Tiger Woods wants to win, he does and by as much as he wants. So the question is does Tiger really want to play now, or does he just want to keep up appearances?

All answers will come on April 8th.

Padraig Harrington sets records at PGA Championship

So what happens when the best golfer in the world isn’t playing in the majors? When that golfer is Tiger Woods the rest of the player get a second wind and amazing things happen. That may be the only answer as to why Padraig Harrington not only won the British Open, but now has also won the PGA Championship.

This is a huge accomplishment of Harrington as this makes him only the 4th player to accomplish a win at both majors in the same year. Of course Tiger Woods has done it twice. Still it’s a record that is impressive for any golfer. Add to that the fact that he is the first European player to win the PGA Championship in 78 years and the first to win back to back majors and it just makes the win that much sweeter.

But I wonder would this have happened if Tiger was around? Probably not.

That is not to say that Harrington is anything less than a great golfer. That’s obvious by his win. But when Tiger is on the course you have to notice how every player is completely different. They play with more pressure and virtually always fold when it comes to Sunday.

Given the pace of wins that Tiger has made in the past, and the sudden rush to victory for Padraig Harrington, the big question is what happens when the best player in the world gets healthy and pissed off that his thunder is being taken by someone else?

I’m looking forward to the next Masters. A showdown between these 2 men. A real challenge of wills and the imposing presence of Tiger. If Harrington can keep his composure, and fend off the rest of the world’s golfers as he has, that’s the Sunday we will see. And that will be a match for the record books I bet.