Tiger Woods is back, yes, he is.
So what’s next?
Can tell you what’s front-and-center on his mind — the 2018 Masters.
If he’s going to win another major in his 40s, he’s 42 late this month, that’s the most likely one.
Question today is — where does he play to work his way there?
Yes, Woods was his old evasive self when asked about his schedule so we’re here today to speculate, er, guess, where he might show up prior to a drive down Magnolia Lane.
Here goes:
January 25: Torrey Pines, Farmers Insurance: No brainer. A favorite course of his, a big-boy test. This will be the first indicator of where his game really stands.
February 15: Riviera, The Genesis: No brainer. They made his Tiger Woods Foundation the beneficiary. He HAS to show up. Doesn’t particularly like the course, has never won there in his professional career.
February 22: Honda, PGA National: No brainer. Short drive to the course, all his buddies are playing. He’ll be there, mark it down.
March 15: Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Invitational. No brainer. If he doesn’t, the Ghost Of Arnie will haunt him.
April 5: The Masters. Mark it down. By then, some book-makers will have him as the odds-on favorite to win.
Things can change depending on Woods’ performance in those events. If someone, miraculously, he can work his way into say, the top 50 in the world, now his meat-and-potatoes are back on his plate — those coveted WGC events.
The WGC Mexico is March 1. The Dell Match Play, another WGC event, is March 21. Those used to fill out his schedule nicely.
Not now, at least for the time being.
Take what you will from his performance at Albany. We still don’t know what he’ll look like in a full-field event on big-boy golf courses with 36-hole cuts.
Oh yes, and he’ll hope there’s not a lot of wind.
 His Early 2018 Schedule){kind=link}