Tiger Woods Prepares for Return to Golf

Tiger Woods hasn't finished a tournament since the end of the Masters in April. Forced to choose between withdrawing and playing through pain Woods chose to withdraw from tournaments to focus on his health. At his press conference on Tuesday he said that he felt better than he had in years and that the time away paid of by helping him along the road to recovery.

Woods will play in the Bridgestone this weekend and will tee off for the first time at 1:40 Thursday afternoon with British Open Champion Darren Clarke. He says that his focus will be on winning the tournament but the crowds focus will be on how he is able to handle himself in this latest comback attempt. He has dropped 20 places in the world rankings, fired his long-time caddie and rebuilt his swing, significant changes in a game where players thrive on routine.

With no wins in the last two years this has been on of the most significant dry spells in Woods's career and he has been plagued by injuries and doubt throughout that period. He contemplated returning for last week's Greenbrier Classic but decided to take the extra week to make sure he was in proper health.

With the PGA Tour reaching the playoff series after the PGA Championship next week Woods will need to move up from 133rd in the season's rankings to the top 125 to continue the season. He will have to finish better than 50th this weekend to reach that mark and will have two tournaments afterwards to maintain or improve his position.