Tiger to return to competition next week

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Feeling rusty but ready to play again, Tiger Woods said Friday he would return to competition next week at Congressional in the Quicken Loans National.

Woods last played on March 9 at Doral, where he dealt with pain in his lower back and closed with a 78 for his highest final-round score on the PGA Tour. He had back surgery March 31, forcing him to miss the Masters for the first time. He also missed the U.S. Open last week at Pinehurst No. 2.

The announcement on his Facebook page delivered a jolt of good news to golf. Woods has been the game's biggest draw since he turned pro in 1996, and with limited information about his recovery, speculation was starting to build that he might not make it to any majors this year.

''After a lot of therapy, I have recovered well and will be supporting my foundation next week at the Quicken Loans National,'' Woods said on Facebook. ''I've just started to hit full shots, but it's time to take the next step. I will be a bit rusty, but I want to play myself back into competitive shape. Excited for the challenge ahead.''

This is the first year for a new title sponsor at the PGA Tour event that donates its charity money to the Tiger Woods Foundation, and the tournament earlier this year secured an agreement to return to Congressional every other year through 2020.

Woods on Thursday announced that he signed a new endorsement deal with MusclePharm, which will display its logo on his golf bag.

''He has been the face of golf for the last 15, 20 years, and golf is a better sport and a better place with Tiger Woods in it,'' two-time major champion Rory McIlroy said last week at the U.S. Open. ''So hopefully, he has a speedy recovery and he gets back on the course soon, because any tournament where Tiger Woods is a factor, he creates a big buzz.''

This is the second-longest break Woods has taken from golf because of injury. He missed the second half of the 2008 season when he had reconstructive surgery on his left knee just a week after winning the U.S. Open for his 14th major.

Even though he spent the offseason working on his body, there were signs early that something might be wrong.

He missed the 54-hole cut at Torrey Pines, where he was the defending champion and an eight-time winner at one of his favorite courses. He had his worst finish ever at Dubai when he tied for 41st. Then, he withdrew in the final round of the Honda Classic because of back spasms, and despite being in the penultimate group at Doral, he struggled badly with his back on the final day after taking a swing from an awkward stance outside a bunker.

Woods had microdiscectomy surgery a week before the Masters, and he has said in rare appearances that he did not know how long it would take to properly heal. His agent, Mark Steinberg at Excel Sports Management, said earlier this week that Woods was making enough progress to extend his swing.

Even so, playing the Quicken Loans National was thought to be too soon.

It couldn't come soon enough for the tournament.

''We're thrilled, obviously,'' said Mike Antolini, the tournament director and vice president of championships for the Tiger Woods Foundation. ''Anytime you get that call and Tiger is in your field, it's really the best news you can get. The fact he's a two-time champion and the tournament hosts, we're very excited for the fans.''

He said he expected a spike in ticket sales with Friday's announcement.

The strength of Quicken Loans National field has suffered in recent years as more Europeans moved into the top 20 in the world, and they headed across the Atlantic Ocean as the European Tour headed places like Ireland, France and Scotland leading up to the British Open.

Adam Scott, who has replaced Woods at No. 1 in the world while he has been out, was not planning to return this year.

''To be honest, we were prepared regardless for a good event,'' Antolini said. ''Our ticket sales, we think they're going to be increased on this news now.''

Three years ago, Woods withdrew after nine holes at The Players Championship because of an Achilles tendon injury and missed more than two months. He said then he had learned from past mistakes and would not try to return before he was in full health.

Assuming he is at full strength now, he likely will be at the British Open at Royal Liverpool and the PGA Championship at Valhalla, where he won majors the last time they were held on those courses. Woods been stuck on 14 majors since that `08 U.S. Open victory.

Woods is at No. 207 in the FedEx Cup - having played only three events - and could have as many as five events to reach the top 125. He also is at No. 67 in the Ryder Cup standings. U.S. captain Tom Watson has said he would use a wild-card pick on Woods, though he had eased off that position in recent weeks when the status of Woods' recovery was unknown.
 

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Tiger made British co-favorite

June 20, 2014


The third golf major of the season takes place in mid-July as the top ball strikers will square off in the 2014 British Open. This year’s event takes place from Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake.

This Friday, Tiger Woods announced that he’ll be returning to competition next week at Congressional in the Quicken Loans National. Woods hasn’t been in action since Mar. 9 when he played with back pain at Doral.

He had surgery on his back on Mar. 31, which forced him to miss the Masters in April and last week’s U.S. Open from Pinehurst No. 2.

Everybody is assuming that Woods is back to full strength now and he’ll likely tee off at the British Open from Royal Liverpool in three weeks.

With this announcement being made, oddsmakers at Sportsbook.ag have made Woods a 15/1 co-favorite to win this year’s British Open. The other golfers sharing the high expectations from the offshore outfit are Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott.

The last time Royal Liverpool Golf Club hosted the British Open was in 2006 and Tiger Woods captured that event, earning him his third Open Championship victory.

Listed below are the odds at Sportsbook.ag for this year’s British Open as of 6/20/14.

Odds to win 2014 British Open (7/20/14)

Rory McIlroy 15/1
Adam Scott 15/1
Tiger Woods 15/1
Martin Kaymer 20/1
Henrik Stenson 25/1
Phil Mickelson 25/1
Jordan Spieth 25/1
Jason Day 25/1
Justin Rose 30/1
Sergio Garcia 35/1
Lee Westwood 35/1
Bubba Watson 35/1
Matt Kuchar 40/1
Dustin Johnson 40/1
Ian Poulter 45/1
Luke Donald 45/1
Graeme McDowell 45/1
Rickie Fowler 50/1
Brandt Snedeker 50/1
Jason Dufner 50/1
Ernie Els 60/1
Zach Johnson 60/1
Hideki Matsuyama 60/1
Louis Oosthuizen 60/1
Charl Schwartzel 60/1
Jim Furyk 60/1
Keegan Bradley 60/1
Paul Casey 60/1
Thomas Bjorn 65/1
Hunter Mahan 70/1
Jamie Donaldson 85/1
Steve Stricker 85/1
Francesco Molinari 85/1
Victor Dubuisson 85/1
Miguel Angel Jimenez 85/1
Jimmy Walker 100/1
Webb Simpson 100/1
Harris English 100/1
Graham DeLaet 100/1
Padraig Harrington 100/1
Angel Cabrera 115/1
Nicolas Colsaerts 115/1
Ryan Moore 115/1
Matteo Manassero 115/1
Patrick Reed 115/1
John Senden 115/1
Gary Woodland 115/1
Bill Haas 115/1
Jonas Blixt 115/1
Brendon de Jonge 125/1
Joost Luiten 125/1
Ross Fisher 125/1
Thorbjorn Olesen 125/1
Martin Laird 125/1
Peter Hanson 125/1
Billy Horschel 125/1
Kevin Na 125/1
Chris Kirk 125/1
Freddie Jacobson 125/1
Stephen Gallacher 150/1
Brooks Koepka 150/1
Marc Leishman 175/1
Nick Watney 175/1
Matt Jones 175/1
Chris Wood 175/1
Peter Uihlein 175/1
Shane Lowry 175/1
Mikko Ilonen 175/1
Richard Sterne 175/1
KJ Choi 175/1
Retief Goosen 175/1
Paul Lawrie 175/1
Bernd Wiesberger 175/1
Branden Grace 175/1
George Coetzee 175/1
Stewart Cink 250/1
Geoff Ogilvy 250/1
Tommy Fleetwood 250/1
Thongchai Jaidee 250/1
Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano 250/1
Russell Henley 250/1
Kevin Streelman 250/1
Matt Every 250/1
Ryan Palmer 250/1
Brett Rumford 300/1
Darren Clarke 300/1
Justin Leonard 300/1
Roberto Castro 300/1
DA Points 300/1
Ben Curtis 300/1
David Duval 300/1
John Daly 300/1
YE Yang 300/1
Boo Weekley 300/1
Tom Watson 300/1
Tom Lehman 300/1
Jin Jeong 300/1
Gregory Bourdy 300/1
Kiradech Aphibarnrat 300/1
 

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Woods signs bag deal with MusclePharm

June 18, 2014


PINEHURST, N.C. (AP) - Tiger Woods will have a new sponsor on his bag when he returns to competition, signing an endorsement deal with Denver-based MusclePharm Corp. that could include his own line of nutrition products.

MusclePharm, a performance and lifestyle sports nutrition company, announced on its website Wednesday that the contract includes sponsorship of his golf bag.

''We are excited to work with Tiger to bring more attention to nutritional science and how it can enhance strength and overall athletic performance, and most importantly, fuel athletes safely,'' said Brad Pyatt, the chairman and CEO, a former receiver for the Indianapolis Colts.

The deal starts July 1. When anyone will see the bag remains a mystery.

Woods has not played since March 9 at Doral, and he had back surgery three weeks later that so far has kept him out of the Masters and the U.S. Open. Speculation that he might return in time for the British Open has been fueled by news that Woods is able to take a fuller swing.

''That's just the start date of the contract,'' said Mark Steinberg, his agent at Excel Sports Management. ''Yes, he is swinging more freely. Yes, he is expanding the range of his swing each day. That's a natural progression. He was never going to go from babying sand wedges 50 yards to teeing it up in competition. Because he's feeling very good, each day is a step toward an expansive swing. As soon as he's good for a number of days, and gets material reps at full-go mentality and physicality, he'll have a green light.''

Woods is tournament host next week for the Quicken Loans National at Congressional. The British Open is July 17-20. Woods, who has not won a major since capturing his 14th in the 2008 U.S. Open, has never missed three straight majors.

MusclePharm replaces Fuse Science on his golf bag, which he had endorsed since November 2011. The company never gained much traction, and it was rare to see a sponsor have such prime space without any television commercials, or significant marketing campaign.

No gets more TV time than Woods. A logo on the bag rates behind the cap, shirt front and shirt sleeve or collar in exposure. MusclePharm becomes only the fifth corporate brand to occupy that space on the bag behind Titleist, Buick, AT&T and Fuse.

It's the first significant endorsement deal that Woods has signed since Fuse.

''It's a cool company,'' Steinberg said. ''We talked to these guys at MusclePharm a couple of years and didn't have availability. The attraction is they're a company about the athlete and helping the athlete perform better. When people think about Tiger, he was one of the first athletes in the sport of golf. Not it seems that everybody is an athletes. That resonated a bit with Tiger and I.''

Among other athletes endorsed by MusclePharm are San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and New York Jets receiver Eric Decker.

Steinberg said there was potential for Woods to have his own line of products with the company. He once had his own line in a former deal with Gatorade. He said Woods will be promoted in print and electronic ads, as well as through social media.

''This collaboration would be fun and authentic,'' he said. ''And from the MusclePharm side, their feeling is Tiger is helping them reach a whole new demographic.''
 

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