The golf wold is abuzz with the news of Tiger Woods' impending return to PGA Tour competition.
After nearly four months away from the game following the traffic accident at his Florida home on Thanksgiving, and the revelation of extra-marital affairs that followed, Woods has been in treatment and away from the public eye as he tries to rebuild his personal life.
His public persona might take even more time to repair, but one thing's for certain — the PGA Tour and its fans are eager to have Woods back on the course.
Tiger Returns to Golf
Woods acknowledged, during the Accenture Match Play Championships on Feb. 19, that he had spent 45 days in a treatment facility for in-patient therapy to deal with his personal issues. During the press conference, he apologized repeatedly for his behavior and said that he wasn't sure when he'd return to professional golf.
On March 16, Woods announced he would return to the PGA Tour and play in the 2010 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga.
In returning from his layoff of nearly four months, Woods chose a tournament that he's long said is his favorite on the PGA Tour schedule and one that he's won four times.
Angel Cabrera is the defending champion, but all eyes will be on Woods as he makes his 2010 season debut in the April 8-11 event.
Tiger at the Masters
Woods last won the Masters in 2005, making this his longest stretch without winning at Augusta National since he ran away with his first Masters title with a tournament-record 18-under-par 207 in 1997. He also won it in 2001 and 2002.
Woods' four victories at Augusta match Arnold Palmer for second-most in history. Jack Nicklaus holds the most titles, with six.
Tiger's Statistics
According to PGATour.com, Woods has netted almost $93 million in prize money during his professional career.
He's made the cut in 238 of the 253 PGA Tour events he's entered, and finished in the top 25 a staggering 212 times, or 89 percent. He has 164 top-10 finishes and 71 victories.
Woods entered 17 PGA Tour events in 2009 and made the cut in 16 of them, winning six times, finishing second three times and never finishing out of the top 25 en route to a $10.5 million season and a FedEx Cup victory.
He was in fine form when the season ended in early November at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions event, finishing in a tie for sixth place after winning two of his previous three events and finishing second in the other.
All of this, plus Woods' history at Augusta National, has oddsmakers installing him as an early 4/1 favorite to win his fifth Masters.
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