Tourneys, and the world, await word on Tiger

Media reports that Tiger Woods is working with his swing coach Hank Haney have leading golfers talking of a possible return to action for the world No. 1.

The Web sites of the Golf Channel and Golf Digest have both reported that Woods was seen working with Haney on a driving range in Florida over the weekend, which has led to speculation that his return could be on the horizon.

"It's certainly going to be interesting to see not just how he plays but just how he handles the whole situation," Britain's Rory McIlroy said on Tuesday at the Doral course in Miami, where the WGC-CA Championship will take place this week.

"I think everyone is excited to see him just get back out on to the golf course and play golf and from the reports I've heard, he seems to be swinging it well and as good as he ever was.

Woods, who said he was taking an "indefinite break" from the game last December, has only spoken publicly once since and he left it wide open on when he would return.

The first major of the year is the Masters at Augusta on April 8 and if Woods were to return for that event he would likely pick a March tournament to get into the groove.

The Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill and the private Tavistock Cup, both close to Woods' home in the Orlando area, would appear to be ideal occasions but there has been no indication that Woods is considering entering.

"It will be exciting the next few weeks, whenever he comes back, I know a lot of people are saying Tavistock or Bay Hill," McIlroy said. "It would be nice to see him back."

Woods has won six times at Bay Hill including last year's event but while such a return might be logical, no-one has any idea whether it is actually going to materialize.

"I don't know what's going to happen, how the reaction will be," said Britain's Paul Casey.

"You know, golf is here. Golf will always be here, waiting. So we will see what happens when he does return."

‘These are unusual times’
Not long after Woods returned home and starting practicing, the PGA Tour began checking with tournaments to make sure they were prepared to handle the hype over the world's No. 1 player getting back to golf.

That even includes tournaments he has never played.

"Historically, he hasn't played the week before the Masters," said Steve Timms, tournament director of the Houston Open, which is the week before the Masters. "But these are unusual times. We're prepared from a security and media standpoint. We've been watching the media closely, and we've had some weird ones."

Timms, like other tournament directors, are in touch with PGA Tour officials about who is applying for media credentials.

The more immediate focus is in Florida. Woods hasn't played at Innisbrook since Kelli Kuehne was his partner in 1996 at the old JCPenney Classic. Long before Woods was exposed for cheating on his wife, there had been increasing speculation that he was considering the Transitions Championship one of these years, although this doesn't appear to be one of them.

Even so, tournament director Gerald Goodman said tour officials contacted him last week.

"They described it as talking to all tournaments," Goodman said. "They gave no indication that they knew anything, they were just wanting to be thorough. They asked us if we had room for media. We're a large resort on a thousand acres. There's plenty of room."

Scott Wellington didn't need a phone call to start planning. He's the tournament director of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, where Woods is a six-time champion (including last year) and lives a short drive away.

Wellington said the tour shared information from its experience at the TPC Sawgrass, where Woods spoke publicly Feb. 19 for the first time since his car accident the morning after Thanksgiving. Some 300 media came to a nearby hotel to cover the event.

Bay Hill is not the largest property, although it typically has a large media turnout because it is two weeks before the Masters.

"We'll accommodate to the extent we're able to," Wellington said. "But it's like a balloon. It can only get so big. We've discussed 'Plan B' scenarios, and we're prepared to react as best we can. Obviously, it would help to get as much advance knowledge as we can."

Woods typically does not enter a tournament until a day or two before the 5 p.m. Friday deadline, although there are indications from his management team that more notice will be given in this case.

PGA Tour spokesman Ty Votaw described the phone calls as typical conversations the tour has with its events on subjects ranging from media coverage to charity to television. In this case, another topic was added — the return of Woods.

"We've not indicated that we have inside knowledge," Votaw said. "We just want them to be aware so they're no scrambling."

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