Tiger Woods signs deal to play TaylorMade golf clubs

Both Lowry and Sellinger predicted people who played Nike golf equipment before the company announced a year ago that it was getting out of the club business may stay loyal to Woods’ new brand.

Tiger Woods will make his official return to the PGA Tour Thursday after a 17-month absence when the $6.5 million Farmers Insurance Open begins at Torrey Pines Golf Course.

Woods has had four operations on his knee and three on his back, but is adamant that he can make up for lost time at a rain-soaked Torrey Pines in San Diego.

‘When I played the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas before Christmas, I made a lot of birdies, but I also made dumb mistakes. He teed it up twice as an amateur, using persimmon woods, and shot 72-75 as a 16-year-old in 1992, with almost the same massive galleries he lured as a pro. Local favorite Phil Mickelson also is in the field after making his return from two hernia surgeries last week by tying for 21st at La Quinta.

Day blamed a flu virus for his missed cut last season on a course where he won a World Junior Championship in 2004.

Tiger Woods was walking up the middle of the 18th fairway when he noticed someone walking briskly toward him, causing Woods to stop suddenly.

Distance will be important this week at Torrey Pines, especially with the South Course checking in at almost 7,700 yards.

“We all know I haven’t played a full schedule in a very long time so this is an unknown”, said Woods, who played in Wednesday’s Pro-Am to have a look at the revamped North Course.

“I used to be able to handle this kind of cold weather but now I’m a Florida softie, ” he said.

Watching from 50 yards away was Jay Monahan, the new commissioner of the PGA Tour. A brilliant bunker shot on the second, though, earned him his first par in his latest comeback. I’ve sat out long enough.

This one counts, and it won’t be long before Woods is measured against the rest of the field.

“He’s suggested we could go out for dinner and play practice rounds in the months ahead, so that’s been great in like breaking the ice over here”.

“If my back feels good, and I can prepare, then I know I can play”, Woods said.

“I miss trying to beat these guys”. “Those guys will bomb it out there”. The name of his game just happens to be length, where he ranked 15th on Tour in driving distance and 14th in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green.

“So I can understand the changes they have brought in are to protect European Tour events but there is going to be maybe stronger events up against the Rolex Series, so it could be tough to decide where you are going to play”.

Here are the five best groups along with tee times for the first two days. He last played at the Wyndham Championship in August 2015.