Tiger Woods is playing in the Safeway Open in October

[nevets88]

2 hours ago, ScouseJohnny said:

Has the mythical "needle" one hears so much about started moving yet, (outside of the Sand Trap, of course)...?

He's 28th on Google Trends I missed the peak 5 hours ago. But it's the offseason, Apple is getting all the attention today. 

[rehmwa]

Really hope his health is up to the challenge and he can just play out his schedule and make a showing.  It would be exciting to see him get a good 4 days in a row and maybe one more win before retiring.  Especially with the great top field we have now.

[Yukari]

My hope is he makes top 10 on his first tournament back. 

[nevets88]

4 hours ago, iacas said:

Uhh… he was player of the year in 2013. He's got a lifetime exemption to the PGA Tour.

I'm pretty sure if Jack Nicklaus wanted to play he'd qualify, too.

Heck, even with the 2013 stuff, I'm pretty sure he'd still have status if he was a regular guy with a few wins who took a medical leave.

Woods has 79 wins. That's like 4 lifetime exemptions. He could play if he cryogenned himself and woke up in 2250.

And judging from the favorites, retweets and replies, he still moves the needle, his official tweet:

 

 

[newtogolf]

I hope he's healthy and ready - it will be great to see him back out there.  

[Natural Patrick]

4 hours ago, Yukari said:

My hope is he makes top 10 on his first tournament back. 

Not my hope but, I understand you have your dreams.

[Gunther]

7 hours ago, dave s said:

Lifetime exemption sounds like it'll get him into any tournament any time, no questions asked.  What I wanted to know.  Thanks.

dave

No, not every tournament.  It gets him into the regular PGA events but not WGCs.  He qualifies til he's in his 60s for all of the majors since he's won them all.

[saevel25]

I hope he plays well. I hope this is on schedule for him in terms of his rehab. 

[Patch]

17 hours ago, BallStriker said:

Tiger's BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

no pun intended

 

17 hours ago, BallStriker said:

Tiger's BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

no pun intended

IDK....this is probably a "Safeway" for his planned return. 

[David in FL]

1)  I hope he plays, having him in the field is good for the game.

2)  If he plays poorly, he and his fans will blame it on lingering injury, whether that's the case or not.  

3)  If he plays poorly in 2 events, we may never see him again.

[Zeph]

Tiger will always move the needle, even if he's not playing well. His career, records and persona will always be there and a part of him, even if he's not winning.

My only hope is that he can avoid more injuries. A healthy Tiger can win tournaments. He would have won tournaments if he didn't have all these injuries.

[Braivo]

6 hours ago, David in FL said:

1)  I hope he plays, having him in the field is good for the game.

2)  If he plays poorly, he and his fans will blame it on lingering injury, whether that's the case or not.  

3)  If he plays poorly in 2 events, we may never see him again.

 

This. 

I want nothing more than to see him compete again, maybe even have a Jack '86 Masters moment for the ages. 

But I'm afraid my gut tells me he may play poorly for a few events then claim his back is injured again and retire for good. I hope I am wrong. 

[jkelley9]

I'm not getting myself all hyped up over this but overall I'd like to think I'm "excited" that Tiger "is back." But I feel like his condition/age/performance/competitiveness are ALL suspect for failure right now.

Here's my hope, in order of priority:

1. Tiger does indeed come back to these events as planned and does NOT re-injure himself in some fashion again

2. He doesn't have any ridiculous blowup rounds like shooting 80 and withdrawing. That's just not fun to watch.

3. He gets progressively better over the 3 events this year

I don't think he'll win. Period. I don't even know if I really care if he's in contention at some point in a weekend. I just want to see some of "the old Tiger" back on the course. The things that made him who he was as a golfer.

I DO NOT want to see an extremely competitive Tiger to where he hurts himself again and retires. That would just be s***ty. I'd like to see some of the early calm, collected type of competitive Tiger. 

I'd like to see 1 win in 2017 and maybe a T2/T3 or two. That would make me happy.

[onkey]

I'd like to see him accept his age and start to play with some maturity.  I don't want to see a Tiger who is striving to overpower the golf course anymore.

[Aflighter]

Who the hell is Tiger Woods?

[Natural Patrick]

7 hours ago, David in FL said:

1)  I hope he plays, having him in the field is good for the game.

2)  If he plays poorly, he and his fans will blame it on lingering injury, whether that's the case or not.  

3)  If he plays poorly in 2 events, we may never see him again.

2) is a Fact.

[newtogolf]

Unfortunately Tiger is coming back a little too late to save Nike Golf hard goods.  The golf club business is a tough business but I can't help but wonder if Nike Golf would have survived had Rory played better and Tiger not been injured.  

[colin007]

45 minutes ago, newtogolf said:

Unfortunately Tiger is coming back a little too late to save Nike Golf hard goods.  The golf club business is a tough business but I can't help but wonder if Nike Golf would have survived had Rory played better and Tiger not been injured.  

 I'm not sure if it would have made a difference… Do you play any particular clubs because a professional plays them? I am the biggest Tiger lover around and I don't own a single Nike club.