Even though the golf season is well under way, it really never feels like it has begun until Tiger plays his first tournament. I am sure that the winners do not feel that way, but I do not think I am alone in feeling like there is just something missing until he is in the field.

This year was like no other, though. With a knee injury shutting him down last year and surgery causing him to rehabilitate in the offseason, I was skeptical if we would see him before the Masters. Throw in a new son in his family and I was certain that we were a month from his first start, at least.

Imagine my surprise and jubilation when I was proven wrong.

Next week Tiger will tee it up in the Accenture Match Play Event in Tucson, Arizona and I, for one, am excited. I am, however, tempered in my expectations for an outcome. How will his knee react? Will his swing have some “winter rust?” Will being a father again distract from the golf? How will the rest of the field react knowing that they may have to face him in later rounds?

All these questions and not a single answer until he plays. I have to be honest, I am thinking early round exit in this thing. I know he LOVES this tournament. I also know that NOBODY can beat his intensity and will in a match play event. I just don’t know how his body will react after such a procedure. But nobody knows their body better than the athlete, except if you are a baseball player. Then you have “no idea” what it is that you were taking or smearing on your body.

Tiger faces Brendan Jones in the first round, as it stands right now. Barring a withdrawl by one of the top 64 ranked players in the world, Jones will be the first to see Tiger in competition this year. I am sure he will be bombarded with questions all week and beyond. I can’t wait to see how he reacts as well. This should be the best time for him to show who he is to a variety of fans who have no idea who he is, me included ha ha.

The only advice I can give him is this; DO NOT say anything about Tiger being more “beatable” now than ever. It didn’t work for Stephen Ames (does 9 & 8 ring a bell?)  and I can not imagine that it will work for Brendan Jones.

The golf season….is officially off and running!

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