HE IS BACK

By Eric Margolin

HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK.HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK.HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK.HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK.HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK.HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK.HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK. HE IS BACK. 

The best golfer in the history of the sport is back and ready for action this week, for the first time since his victory at the Tour Champtionship 126 days ago. Tiger Woods will open his 2019 season the usual way by competing in The Farmer's Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, a course he has won at 7 times on the PGA Tour.  Woods has started most of his seasons at Torrey Pines so what makes this year different? 

• New Year, New Rules

2019 is the year of the rule change in professional golf. From a new drop height (instead of from the shoulder you can drop from the knee) to less ball looking time (instead of 5 minutes you have 3 minutes to look for your lost ball), the game of golf will look different this year. But there is no greater change to the sport than the new flagstick rule. Players can now putt with the flagstick in the hole, changing putting strategy for many players, including Tiger. So don't be surprised if the greens look a little more 3 dimensional this year. 

• Tiger joins the Taylor Gang

Tiger Woods will debut the newest Taylor Made woods and irons this week at Torrey Pines. The M5 driver and 3 wood are the latest and most customizable product to come from the producer of the best drivers in golf. The carbon fiber shaft and adjustable hosel allow for over 21,000 possible settings, one of which, Woods will be playing with this week. He will also be changing his irons up this year, using the P-7TW (a variation of the P-730). The custom set will combine Woods' historic precision with the power of Taylor Made's best clubs to date. 

• Tiger is (almost) the favorite

Last year at this time most golf fans were wondering if they would ever see Tiger Woods play competitive golf again. Coming off spinal fusion surgery Woods (ranked 539th in the official WGR) wasn't a sure thing. This year he comes in ranked 12th and has the second best odds (14-1) to win the tournament. How a year changes things. 


Tiger's on the prowl for his first major championship since 2008. The hunt begins today

​Image From of CNN