Tiger Woods makes peace with Steve Williams at Presidents Cup

Tiger Woods made peace with ex-caddie Steve Williams, then played worse than a caddie in the opening round of the Presidents Cup at Melbourne, Australia.

Playing with Steve Stricker, they didn't win a hole and didn't make a birdie in tying the Presidents Cup record for the worst loss ever, 7 and 6, to Adam Scott and K.J. Choi.

Scott, who now uses Williams as his caddie, kept his distance from Woods until Woods and Williams shook hands on the 12th green. The foursomes match ended with Scott rolling in a 25-foot birdie putt on the 11th, and stuffing his approach into 10 feet for Choi's birdie on their final hole.

"We were just slightly off," Woods said. "On a golf course like this, it doesn't take much."

However, despite the poor showing by Woods and Stricker, the U.S. ended the day with a 4-2 lead over the International team.

Woods said he wanted to quickly put the squabble with Williams behind him after his former caddie used a racial comment when discussing Woods a couple of weeks ago.

"I put my hand out there to shake it, and life goes forward," Woods said. "There's some great things that Steve and I did, and that's how I look at it. I know he probably looks at it differently than I do, but hey, life goes forward, and I'm very happy with what we've done in our career together."

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-- Houston Mitchell

Photo: Tiger Woods and Steve Williams shake hands at the Presidents Cup. Credit: Brandon Malone / Reuters

Greg Norman hopes pairing helps Tiger Woods, ex-caddie move on

Greg Norman says no one wants the recent controversy between Tiger Woods and his ex-caddie Steve Williams to be an issue at this week's Presidents Cup.

Nonetheless, the captain of the International team and his U.S. counterpart, Fred Couples, decided to put the two on the course together for the feature match in the opening session Thursday at Royal Melbourne.

It may sound like a counterproductive move, but it made more sense after Norman's comments at Wednesday's opening ceremony.

“If we had to defuse anything and just get this thing over and done with, wouldn't you rather have it sooner than later?” Norman said. “Because I personally wouldn't have wanted to be sitting down at the singles and everybody is playing a really tight match and it comes down to the last group or the second to last group, and all of this pressure is coming on because it's the first time the two met.”

The Presidents Cup captains take turns filling out the lineup for each match. When it came down to Thursday's feature match, the only pairs left were Woods and Steve Stricker for the U.S. and K.J. Choi and Adam Scott for the International team.

And Scott happens to be Williams' current employer. Which means Woods will be facing the caddie he fired this summer just two weeks after Williams' seemingly racist comments about Woods at a caddies award dinner.

Williams has since apologized for the matter, and Woods has said that the caddie is not a racist. Norman said he hopes Thursday's pairing helps put the issue to rest rather than stir up more controversy.

“I'm sure Freddie and I — everybody — we want to put this behind us,” Norman said. “It's a dead issue as far as we're concerned. There's no animosity between any of the players. I know it's good fodder. People like to talk about it in the media. But from our perspective, it's dead and gone. And we would like to keep it that way going forward.”

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-- Chuck Schilken

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Photo: Tiger Woods is introduced during the opening ceremony prior to the start of 2011 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne. Credit: David Cannon / Getty Images

Tiger Woods falters in Australian Open, loses lead

Tiger Woods, leading a tournament for only the second time this year, surrendered the lead by starting with three consecutive bogeys and stumbling his way through the third round of the Australian Open on Saturday in Sydney.

Woods began the day at The Lakes golf course with a one-shot lead but managed only two birdies after his three-bogey start to finish the round at three-over 75. The former No. 1-ranked player in the world, who last won nearly two years ago at the Australian Masters before his marriage and game were torn apart in a sex scandal, is six shots behind leader John Senden.

“I just got off to an awful start,” said Woods, one of eight Americans playing the Australian Open in preparation for the Presidents Cup next week at Royal Melbourne. “The round should have been an easy 71, no problem. I played the par-fives bad, I didn't take care of [No.] 13. But if I take care of the par-fives and make a couple of putts, it's a one- or two-under round. But I made nothing today.”

Woods is unlikely to end the longest drought of his once-storied career, which includes 14 major championships, since he has won a tournament only once when trailing by six shots or more going into the final round -- nearly 14 years ago in Thailand.

“I need to play good on that front nine. Anything can happen on the back nine,” Woods said. “If I can just play a good, solid front nine and get things going on the back nine, they have some easy holes on the back nine. If I can shoot some low scores, I'll be right there.”

Senden, who won the Australian Open five years ago at Royal Sydney, birdied his last two holes to finish off a round of nine-under 63, giving him a one-shot lead over Jason Day, who celebrated his 24th birthday with a 68.

Greg Chalmers had a 67 to move to within two shots of the lead. He's followed by Nick O'Hern (66) and Nick Watney (68) another shot back.

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Fans, foes impressed by Tiger's second round

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--Dan Loumena

Wire services contributed to this report.

Photo: Tiger Woods looks for a wayward shot on the 11th hole at The Lakes golf course on Saturday in Sydney. Ryan Pierse / Getty Images

Tiger Woods takes lead in Australian Open; fans, even foes, impressed

Tiger Woods shot a five-under-par 67 on Friday to take a one-shot lead after two rounds of the Australian Open.

Woods said he felt he played well after taking only his second lead after a completed round since he won at the Australian Masters almost two years ago. Woods is at nine-under 135 at the Lakes in Sydney.

Tiger fans on Twitter are singing his praises -- "Tiger Woods is back... Whether he made mistakes or not... He one of the greatest Golfers to tee of" and "Music to any true golf fans ears."  Jason Day, who played the round with Woods, also was impressed.

“He hits some shots that made me go, ‘Wow,’ " said Day, one of Australia's rising young stars, who had a 68 to finish two back.

"I feel that I can play a lot of different shots, but some of the shots that guy hits, especially around the greens, are amazing. He is always in control and always composed.”

Peter O'Malley (no, not the ex-Dodgers owner) birdied his last two holes for a 66 to finish one shot behind Woods. And Bubba Watson birdied his last three holes for a 70 to close within three shots of the lead.

“Even though I shot five under," Woods said, "it felt it could have been eight or nine deep.

“It is one of those things, just being patient. I'm playing like I am playing at home. It has finally come to the golf course in a tournament setting. It takes a little time but once it starts coming, the confidence starts building.”

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Tiger has more work to do in comeback

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-- Dan Loumena

Photo: Tiger Woods watches his tee shot at No. 18 during the second round of the Australian Open on Friday. Credit: David Cannon / Getty Images

Phil Mickelson elected to World Golf Hall of Fame

Four-time major winner Phil Mickelson has been elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame. Mickelson, who became eligible after turning 40 last year, received 72% of votes cast.

"My thanks go to those who voted me into the World Golf Hall of Fame," Mickelson said. "It really is a tremendous honor to be mentioned alongside the greats of a game that's centuries old. The Players Championship week always has been special to me and the induction ceremony next May will make it even more so."

The induction ceremony will be May 7 at the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, Fla., the week of the Players Championship, which Mickelson won in 2007.

"It seems Phil has been destined for this honor for some time," PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem said. "From his days as one of the world's premier amateur players to his seamless transition to professional star, Phil has always performed at the highest levels of the sport and this recognition is well deserved."

A winner of 39 events on the PGA Tour, Mickelson has won three Masters and a PGA Championship.

A golfer must be named on 65% of ballots sent in by a panel comprising golf journalists, historians and golf dignitaries to be inducted. This year's results:

Phil Mickelson, 72%; Fred Couples, 38%; Davis Love III, 29%; Mark O'Meara, 29%; Macdonald Smith, 27%; Ken Venturi, 27%; Tony Lema, 22%; Fuzzy Zoeller, 17%; Dave Stockton, 16%; Harold (Jug) McSpaden, 12%; Miller Barber, 10%; Don January, 9%; Jim Furyk, 4%; Loren Roberts, 1%.

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-- Houston Mitchell

Photo: Phil Mickelson. Credit: Stephen Morrison / EPA.

Caddie Steve Williams takes another swipe at Tiger Woods

Steve Williams, longtime caddie of Tiger Woods, seems to have a problem when it comes to talking too much about his former employer.

Williams, who was hardly shy with his words when Woods dropped him earlier this year, used a racial slur when describing his motives behind an interview he gave shortly after helping Adam Scott win a PGA Tour event only days after Woods fired him.

Williams, who called Scott's victory "the best win of my life," said of his interview, “It was my aim to shove it right up that black [explitive].”

Williams made the comments after receiving a "Celebration of the Year" award at a caddie roast in Shanghai on Friday. A provision of the roast was that anything said was to be off the record. However, British tabloids reported the comment.

"Why would they do that?" said Williams when told the comment had been published. "The whole thing was meant to be fun."

Williams later apologized on his website: "I apologize for comments I made last night at the Annual Caddy Awards dinner in Shanghai. Players and caddies look forward to this evening all year, and the spirit is always joking and fun. I now realize how my comments could be construed as racist. However, I assure you that was not my intent. I sincerely apologize to Tiger and anyone else I've offended."

Williams, who was alongside Woods for 13 major victories, made no secret of his anger toward Woods after he was fired. His jubiliant celebration after Scott's win at the Bridgestone Invitational was criticized by some who accused him of overplaying the situation. Others saw it as vindication for a man who stood behind Woods during his triumphs and tribulations.

According to the Associated Press, Woods and Scott are scheduled to be in the same group at next week's Australia Open.

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-- Austin Knoblauch

Photo: Caddie Steve Williams points out yardage to golfer Adam Scott during the HSBC Champions tournament in November. Credit: Mark Ralston / AFP / Getty Images

Tiger Woods has hot dog thrown at him by spectator

Tiger Woods was standing over a putt at the seventh green Sunday at the Frys.com Open when a fan charged out of the crowd yelling “Tiger” and tossed a hot dog at him.

Woods calmly backed away from his putt and the man immediately threw his hands up, surrendering to security officers and police.

“When I looked up, the hot dog was already in the air,” Woods said. “He was pretty far away from me.”

The suspect, a white male in his late 20s or early 30s, was arrested and taken off the premises. Officials described him as intoxicated.

“It wasn’t a chili dog,” said Dan Diggins, a tournament security official. “It could have been really bad.”

Rod Pampling, who was playing with Woods, called it “bizarre. I don’t know what he was trying to prove.”

--David Wharton, reporting from San Martin, Calif.

Photo: Tiger Woods acknowledges the gallery after putting out at No. 17 on Sunday during the final round of the Frys.com Open. Credit: Allan Henry / US Presswire

Tiger Woods is not quite good enough Saturday at Frys.com Open

Tiger Woods had plenty of shots to feel good about after Saturday’s third round at the Frys.com Open.

Just not enough to put himself in realistic contention for Sunday.

After closing to within a few strokes of the lead early on, Woods missed several birdie putts and made several errors the rest of the way, finishing with a 68 to stand four-under par, well back from the leaders at CordeValle Golf Club.

“I was very close to really putting it together on the front nine,” he said. “I wasn’t that far away.”

Briny Baird had a late charge, including an eagle on the par-four 17^th hole, to lead the tournament at 13-under.

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-- David Wharton, reporting from San Martin, Calif.

Photo: Tiger Woods hits his tee shot on the fourth hole Saturday at the Frys.com Open at CordeValle Golf Club. Credit: Allan Henry / US Presswire

Tiger Woods is one-over after front nine at Frys.com Open

 

A confident Tiger Woods insisted that he planned on winning the Frys.com Open this week, but after the front nine of the first round, he might aim a little lower – like beating the other two golfers in his threesome.

Woods followed an opening birdie with some forgettable golf, hitting too many wayward drives and not enough accurate putts to stand at one-over at CordeValle in San Martin, Ca.

His playing partner, UCLA sophomore Patrick Cantlay, looked far more assured, sinking a birdie putt on the ninth hole to reach three-under. Louis Oosthuizen made the turn at par.

A trio of golfers held the lead at four-under on a blustery day of alternating sunshine and rain.

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--David Wharton, reporting from San Martin, Calif.

Photo: Tiger Woods on the second hole Thursday. Credit: Robert Galbraith / Reuters.

 

 

 

This Tiger Woods comeback is different from the others

The latest Tiger Woods comeback got off to a good start Wednesday.

First, Woods announced that he had signed an endorsement deal with Rolex. Second, he said he felt strong after finishing a pro-am leading up to this week’s Frys.com Open at CordeValle in Northern California.

“I’m able to walk the golf course,” he said. “This is a golf course I [previously] would have a very difficult time walking.”

Health alone makes this comeback different from others that have fallen flat, Woods told reporters during an afternoon news conference. He is scheduled to tee off in Thursday’s first round with Louis Oosthuizen and UCLA star Patrick Cantlay.

“I’ve got my strength back, the explosiveness in that leg,” he said. “That’s from having time to heal and train.”

Failing to qualify for the FedEx Cup playoffs meant extra days at home, playing 36 or more holes a day, looking to regain the sharpness that had faded with an inconsistent, injury-plagued schedule in recent years.

It also gave him time to continue working on major swing changes with coach Sean Foley. Woods seemed upbeat just days after falling out of the top 50 in the world rankings for the first time in more than a decade.

“I’ve done the legwork,” he said. “Now it’s time to go play.”

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-- David Wharton

david.wharton@latimes.com

twitter.com/LATimesWharton

Photo: Tiger Woods tees off during the Frys.com Open pro-am on Wednesday. Credit: Marcio Jose Sanchez / Associated Press

 

 

Tiger Woods lands endorsement deal with Rolex

Tiger Woods has fallen on some tough times lately, but he is ready for a comeback -- at least in the advertising world.

The former No. 1 golfer in the world -- who recently dropped out of the top 50 -- will be an ambassador for Rolex in a deal that is believed to be for at least five years.

It is the first major endorsement Woods has landed since his serial adultery was exposed nearly two years ago. He had lost five major endorsements -- including one with another watch company, Tag Heuer, two months ago -- since that time.

He also has not won a tournament in that span.

“Rolex is convinced that Tiger Woods still has a long career ahead of him, and that he has all the qualities required to continue to mark the history of golf,” the company said in a statement.

Mark Steinberg, Woods' agent at Excel Sports Management, says more such endorsement deals should be coming his client's way.

“This makes a big statement,” Steinberg said of Woods, who announced a deal to endorse a heat rub product in Japan this year. “I think this shows me where people are with Tiger Woods.”

Woods is taking part in this week's Frys.com Open at the CordeValle Golf Club in San Martin, Calif. It's one of four events remaining on his schedule this year.

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-- Chuck Schilken

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Photo: Tiger Woods laughs with caddie Joe LaCava during the Pro Am of the Frys.com Open at the CordeValle Golf Club in San Martin, Calif. Credit: Robert Laberge / Getty Images

Sink your teeth into the U.S. Putting Tour Championship

 

A putting competition is underway this week down in Carlsbad, where those with steady nerves  will compete for a cash prize and a chance to move on to a “World Putting Tour Championship.” Augusta, it’s not. But the first-ever tourney is a nice opportunity to hone putting skills against a range of competition, from duffers to club pros. It is open to men and women, ages 13 and up.

Dubbed the U.S. Putting Tour Championship, the event begins with a single preliminary round by each participant. In Round 1, entrants play 72 holes on a day of their choosing (Thursday, Friday or Saturday, at this point).

Seventy-two golfers will advance to Sunday’s championship. They will play 36 holes that morning, after which the field will be cut to the best 24 scores. Those 24 golfers will then play 36 more holes. In the event of a tie, there will be a sudden-death playoff.

The entry fee is $100. Amateurs can sign a waiver to maintain their amateur status. Total cash payout will be determined by the size of the field.

The tourney, run by Jim Hartley, takes place on the Crossings’ large, two-tiered practice putting green in Carlsbad, north of San Diego. For details, go to www.usputtingtour.com/

Directions from L.A.: Interstate 5 south through Camp Pendleton. Exit Palomar Airport Road. Continue east one mile. Turn left on The Crossings Drive.

--Chris Erskine

 

Lexi Thompson, 16, is youngest winner of LPGA Tour event

Lexi Thompson, 16, became the youngest player to win an LPGA Tour event when she captured the victory at the Navistar LPGA Classic in Prattville, Ala., on Sunday.

Thompson, who is from Coral Springs, Fla., eclipsed the mark of Paula Creamer, who was 18 when she won her first event in 2005. Thompson clinched the victory at 17-under-par 271 with a 70 on Sunday and finished five shots ahead of Tiffany Joh.

"This has been my dream, like, my whole life," said Thompson, who has brothers playing on the PGA Tour and in college. "It's the best feeling ever."

Although she admitted to being nervous, Thompson said, "Once I hit the first tee shot I was like, 'OK, I'm good.' "

Thompson, who qualified for her first pro tournament at 12 and turned pro at 15, is in the process of attaining an LPGA Tour card. Her petition for qualifying school was granted this summer, and she won the first stage by 10 strokes in July. There are two more stages to go.

"We haven't really talked about that yet," said her father, Scott Thompson, who caddied for her. "We'll worry about that as it comes, so we'll see."

-- Dan Loumena

Photo: Lexi Thompson with the winner's trophy after her victory in the Navistar LPGA Classic on Sunday. Credit: Lloyd Gallman / Associated Press

Tiger Woods to play in Frys.com Open

Tiger Woods, usually winding down at this time of year, has committed to play in the Frys.com Open in October, tournament director Ian Knight announced. The event, at CordeValle in San Martin, Calif., is part of the Fall Series calendar.

Fall Series events are often filled with players trying to improve their standing to keep their tour cards for the next year. They're held at a time when many of the top players take a break from the game. But Woods, who has played in only two events since withdrawing from the Players championship in May, needs some serious work on his game and has not consistently played like a top player in almost two years.

Fred Couples recently announced he wanted Woods to play on the U.S. Presidents Cup team, which will play an international team in Australia in November. Woods, who missed the cut at the PGA Championship after finishing tied for 37th at the WGC Bridgestone, obviously has some things to work on. 

One interesting note: The defending champion at CordeValle is Rocco Mediate, the player Woods beat in a riveting U.S. Open final at Torrey Pines in 2009. That was Woods' last win in a major.

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-- Mike James

Photo: Tiger Woods. Credit: Tim Shaffer / Reuters

Would you have picked Tiger Woods for Presidents Cup team?

 

Writers from around the Tribune Co. discuss the topic. Weigh in with a comment of your own.

Tom Yantz, Hartford Courant

Absolutely not.

U.S. captain Fred Couples says Woods “is the best player in the world forever.”

In the past, yes, but no way today. Woods has plummeted from No. 2 in the world to No. 36. He didn’t even crack the top 125 in PGA Tour earnings to play in the FedEx Cup postseason.

Woods is 28th in the Presidents Cup standings. That’s right between Kevin Na and D.A. Points –- not exactly Rory McIlroy and Steve Stricker.

Couples had until Sept. 26 to make his two captain’s picks. Why didn’t he wait to see if Woods could play himself onto the team?

With Woods’ selection, how does a Jim Furyk (11th in the U.S. Presidents Cup standings) or a PGA champion Keegan Bradley (18th) stay motivated to try to earn a captain’s choice? 

No one deserves a spot. You have to earn it.

Bill Kline, The Morning Call

Sure, the field has caught and even trampled Tiger Woods at stroke-play tournaments. But Woods still has more talent than the bottom third of the U.S. Presidents Cup team combined. In match play, particularly one-on-one, he has as much resolve as a freedom fighter. And when Woods is inspired –- as he will be after his selection is maligned by some – his engine gets fired up more than Dick Vitale preaching at a motivation seminar.

Forget the slump and the injuries and the personal meltdown. Head-to-head, Woods still can stare you down like Jack and rip out your heart like MJ. And come Sunday’s singles play, when every cup point is precious, Woods will make us proud.

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Photo: Tiger Woods. Credit: Hunter Martin / Getty Images.

Bill Plaschke: Golf wins as Tiger Woods loses at PGA Championship

The thought settled in my mind at approximately the same time Keegan Bradley’s 35-foot birdie putt settled into the 17^th hole, highlighting his humid, howling charge toward a PGA Championship.

I don’t miss Tiger Woods.

The idea pounded through my brain when, a few minutes later, I watched Jason Dufner graciously pump fists with fans before beginning the painful process of coughing up that PGA Championship.

I don’t miss Tiger Woods.

I don’t miss sullen when I can watch joy. I don’t miss aloof when I can watch engaging. I don’t miss plastic when I can watch real.

There will be much discussion today that rookie Bradley’s playoff victory over Dufner in the PGA Championship in Atlanta on Sunday capped a summer that was a major bore. The four biggest tournaments had four different anonymous winners, none of which were named Woods, and isn’t golf going to hell in a head cover?

Wrong. Golf grows. Golf wins. This transformation to younger, unaffected champions is the best thing to happen to golf since, well, Tiger Woods.

It’s fun to watch new faces. It's inspiring to feel a different energy. Charl Schwartzel overcomes Rory McIlroy’s collapse to win the Masters. McIlroy rebounds to dominate the U.S. Open. Darren Clarke rolls out a big-bellied win at the British Open.

Chasing history: Tiger Woods vs. Jack Nicklaus

Tiger Woods' flame-out at the PGA Championship this week won't help his chances of catching Jack Nicklaus -- at least in the history books.

Woods has been chasing Nicklaus' celebrated record of 18 major tournament wins (Masters, U.S. Open, British Open, PGA). But Woods missed the cut at the PGA on Friday, meaning he is 0 for 2011 and has failed to add any majors to his collection of 14.

Woods is 35. By that age Nicklaus had also won 14 majors, though the Golden Bear had a much better 35th year, winning the Masters and the PGA.

Woods' life and his golf game have been in a spiral since that car crash in November 2009, as he has tumbled from No. 1 to No. 30 in the world rankings and is winless on the course.

Although Woods and Nicklaus were both golf prodigies, Woods got off to a faster start by winning 10 majors in his twenties to Nicklaus' seven.

Nicklaus, though, was consistently great for a l-o-n-g time, with 24 years between his first major win and his last, at age 46 in the 1986 Masters. He also won eight majors in his thirties (so far Woods has four) and three more in his forties.

Next April, when Woods tees it up at the Masters, he will have gone nearly four years without winning a major. If Woods needs any inspiration, consider that Nicklaus won one more of each of the four major championships after turning 38.

Can Woods still beat Nicklaus’ major record?

Nicklaus was asked that question last spring. His answer: "He's still got to win five more, and that's more than a career for anybody else playing."

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Photos: The 93rd PGA Championship

-- Barry Stavro

Photo: Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods during the Memorial Skins Game in June 2009 in Ohio. Credit: Jay LaPrete / Associated Press

PGA Championship: Will it be Tiger Woods? Rory McIlroy?

Who will win this week's PGA Championship? Tiger Woods? Rory McIlroy? Steve Williams ... er, Adam Scott?

Writers from around Tribune Co. share their opinions. Check back throughout the day for more responses and feel free to weigh in with a comment of your own.

Diane Pucin, Los Angeles Times

It would probably be best if Adam Scott/Steve Williams didn't win this week. The sport couldn't take that post-match chat again.

Tiger Woods isn't going to win  -- not after talking about how his season is a success because his knee doesn't hurt. Now he just needs a pain-free knee to be happy? No majors, no chipping away at the Nicklaus record? Not even a Wells Fargo or Waste Management run-of-the-mill tournament? Wow.

So let's go against the grain a little bit and give tennis a little love by picking Rory McIlroy to cap off a brilliant, pain-free, winning-heavy summer with another major.

The tennis part? He seems to be dating top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki. It must be serious because nicknames are being created -– WozIlroy, Mcniacki -– and that only happens to really serious famous couples, such as Brangelina.

Dating a famous tennis player didn't work out so well for another top-notch golfer. Sergio Garcia never did much when he was attached to Martina Hingis. But Hingis was the winner in that couple. Wozniacki may be No. 1, but she hasn't come close to winning a Grand Slam event. So McIlroy it is.

Bill Plaschke: Take a bow, Steve Williams ... now go away

All praise Steve Williams, the golfing celebrity who fought through controversy and disappointment last weekend to hear thousands of fans chanting his name as he won the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and … wait a minute.

Steve Williams didn’t win. Adam Scott won.

Steve Williams only carried the clubs.  Adam Scott actually swung them.

Yet it was Williams who heard the loudest applause, it was Williams who conducted the main post-match interview, it was Williams who stole the show from a golfer who won with the lowest tournament score in 11 years.

And it is Williams who should now shut up and disappear.

Please. This caddy needs to be shacked. Long considered one of golf’s most classless figures, Williams outdid himself Sunday by using the furor over being fired by Tiger Woods to overshadow his new golfer’s success.

How will Tiger Woods do in his return to golf this week?

Writers from around the Tribune Co. discuss Tiger Woods, who is returning to competitive golf this week at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. Check back throughout the day for more responses and weigh in with a comment of your own.

Barry Stavro, Los Angeles Times

Better than last year, when he was 18-over-par for the tournament and finished 78th in the 81-player field.

Why an improvement this time?

As miserable as 2011 has been for Woods, most fans have forgotten that he almost won the Masters in April –- though his putter is no longer a magic wand in his hands.

Granted, Woods is rusty, again. But like August National, Woods is comfortable on the Firestone course -- he’s won the Bridgestone Invitational seven times -- and this week’s tournament is a small field and there’s no cut so he’ll get in four rounds.

My guess is Woods won’t embarrass himself, and that he’ll finish in the top 15.