Tiger Woods may be back in action sooner than most people had predicted. The disgraced golf superstar spent six weeks in a sex rehabilitation clinic in Mississippi after news came out about his extramarital affairs at the end of 2009.
Woods plans to make his return at a low-key event, Orlando’s Tavistock Cup. He wants to use the private event on March 22-23 as a warm-up for his return to the PGA Tour. The event is put on annually by the Isleworth Club, Florida, within the confines of the gated golf community where Woods lives with his wife, Elin Nordegren. It was first claimed that Woods would make his return to professional golf with the World Matchplay Championship in Arizona on Feb. 17, but his caddy, Steve Williams, was quick to deny the reports.
The Tavistock Cup is an opportunity for Woods to return to the sport with minimal media impact or public scrutiny. The highly-exclusive event is open to a small number of invited spectators, and the Orlando club has complete control of media access. Isleworth will face off against Lake Nona with 20 of the top PGA Tour, LPGA and European Tour pros competing.
The bookmakers have slashed odds on Woods’ return to golf and play in the U.S. Master’s this year. Coral has cut it from 4/6 to 1/2. Many have Woods at 11/4 to win the Master’s at Augusta. He has been priced at 6/4 to not play at Augusta. In the meantime, golf has gone on without the World #1. At the Dubai Desert Classic, Lee Westwood made a run but fell short of Miguel Angel Jimenez for the championship. Steve Stricker had arguably his best career showing with a Northern Trust Open Championship.