Tim Rosaforte of the Golf Channel, who has been chronicling Tiger Woods’ recovery from three back surgeries, thinks he knows when the former world No. 1 might return to the PGA Tour.
Like maybe in two weeks at the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow.
Rosaforte lives not far from Woods in South Florida and his sources have indicated recently that Tiger is getting close, but this is something else.
“Based on his progress, it makes sense @TigerWoods comes back sooner than later,” Rosaforte said in a Twitter post. “Indications point to @WellsFargoGolf-@THEPLAYERSChamp return.”
Later in a phone interview on the Golf Channel, Rosaforte added: “Nothing has changed as of now. There could be a change of heart at any time. But by all indications with my reporting … this is the logical choice, and this has a very good chance of happening.”
Rosaforte added that Woods’ agent Mark Steinberg said nothing has changed for now.
However, Woods looked sharp according to observers when he hit balls at a junior clinic he put on at Sage Valley Golf Club in Graniteville, S.C., on Thursday.
“@tigerwoods carrying driver 300. I’m not saying he’s back, but … ,” one witness tweeted, before adding”@tiger woods hitting a 2 iron stinger 225. Full 2 irons 255. Swing looks great.”
Woods missed the Masters earlier this month for the second time in three years, but if he can return early in May and proves to be healthy, he could tee it up in the Players and the last three majors of the season–the U.S. Open at Oakmont, the Open Championship at Royal Troon and the PGA Championship at Baltusrol.
Tiger has played six times at Quail Hollow, winning the title in 2007, but missed the cut in his last two appearances in 2010 and 2012.
Notah Begay, a Golf Channel analyst and Woods’ close friend since they were teammates at Stanford, probably has had the best vantage point of Tiger’s recovery.
Begay stayed at Woods home during the Honda Classic, he was in attendance at the junior clinic on Thursday and the two communicate regularly.
“It’s mostly the ball speed and the clubhead speed,” said Begay, adding that Woods’ ball speed is above 170 mph. “That’s a gauge. Every player knows where they should be heading into the season. Everybody else’s season started in the fall. We don’t know when Tiger Woods’ season is going to start, but the physical attributes you would look for are starting to materialize.
“You have to play tournaments. You have to put in the reps on the range, probably 300-500 balls a day, and just have to play tournaments. The combination of walking, swinging slightly faster in tournaments, and the stress and all of the focus you need in a tournament week.”
The 40-year-old Woods has not played since the Wyndham Championship last August, when he posted his best finish of the year, a tie for 10th.
