Last week Tiger Woods announced on his website that his "play and scores" were unacceptable for the PGA Tour and he would not be playing in professional tournaments until he felt he was ready. Will he play in the Honda Classic in less than two weeks?
The Honda Classic begins on Feb. 26 and will take place in Woods' hometown of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. The deadline to submit one's entry and be considered among the field of participants is this Friday at 5 p.m. ET, which has many talking about whether or not Woods' name will be on that list.
"I'd like to play The Honda Classic -- it's a tournament in my hometown and it's important to me -- but I won't be there unless my game is tournament-ready," Woods wrote on his website last week. "That's not fair to anyone. I do, however, expect to be playing again very soon."
Here are what ESPN analysts and writers have to say about Woods possibly returning next weekend:
"Tiger should not play Honda. I believe he is hurt more than he is letting on. To get truly healthy, physically and mentally, I would hope to not see him playing tournament golf until after the U.S. Open or this will be a recurring theme," writes ESPN.com senior golf analyst Michael Collins.
"It is too soon. He needs more time than this to get things together. A few weeks away are in order and perhaps then a return at Bay Hill in mid-March. But only if he is ready," writes ESPN senior golf writer Bob Harig.
Woods is undergoing yet another swing change and the adjustments have drastically affected his scores, especially because of his horrid short game. The 39-year-old is working with Chris Como, who Woods calls his "swing consultant." Como is currently working to earn his Master's Degree in biomechanics and is studying under Dr. Young-Hoo Kwon, who is "considered one of the foremost experts in golf biomechanics and how athletic motions can lead to injuries," according to Golf Digest Magazine.
The former No. 1 golfer in the world has suffered a slew of injuries since 2008 and has been slowed down primarily because of his physical health. Back pain forced him to withdraw from the Farmers Insurance Open less than two weeks ago and he said he's "having daily physical therapy" to treat the injury.
We'll know by Friday if Woods decides to sign up for the Honda Classic.
