Can Tiger roar on return?

Albany (The Bahamas): The early talk — at least most of it — is done and dusted, the positives trotted out and expanded on in great detail, the analyses aired and shared. The focus in less than 24 hours will shift to the par-72 Albany course here as the $3.5 million Hero World Challenge gets under way with all eyes on tournament host Tiger Woods.

Just the fact that the 14-time major winner is playing his first competitive round of golf in close to 17 months is enough to have the golfing world abuzz. There is an energy around this sandy, wind-whipped course that was so palpably missing last year despite the excellent level of golf on display.

And much of that is down to this one man. Golf has not really found a superstar replacement since the time Woods took time out to recover from a career-threatening back injury. Names have sparkled for a time — Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson, Adam Scott, Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, et al — but no one has set a course alight in the way Woods did in his pomp.

Will that Woods ever return is the question. He’s past 40, knows and accepts that times and circumstances have changed. What has not changed though is the hunger that drove him to almost superhuman feats golf club in hand.

“I am going to try to do the same thing I always do. I’m entered in an event, I’m going to try to win this thing,” he said on Tuesday. “I’m going to give it my best.

“I’m going to be focused, I’m going to do what I can do and put the ball in the correct spots, give myself looks and try to bury these putts and post, post scores, and get myself in that mix come Sunday afternoon.

“Playing practice rounds at home with the guys for a little side change has been fun, but to get back out here at this level has been a challenge.”

That is exactly what has galvanised the golfing world. Defending champion Bubba Watson, who went 25 under par on this narrow and trying course where gusting winds make control much harder, summed it up well. “I don’t care what the score is, we want our champion back. We want our Tiger Woods back, we want him playing again.

“So let’s get him playing again. Let’s get four days under our belt. That means if he feels good after four days and he’s not hurting on Monday morning, then he’ll play in January.”

Woods has been paired with Patrick Reed for the opening two rounds and they tee off sixth out of nine flights in this 18-strong field. Watson alongside Rickie Fowler will lead off and all eyes are now on the weather. It’s been extremely breezy with occasional spells of rain. And there is no doubt the wind will continue to be a factor.

Said Watson, “We got lucky (last year) because the wind died down during the tournament. It was still blowing, and every golf course there’s a certain direction the golf course is tougher with certain direction of wind.”

So up winds or down, the stage is set for some serious golf, with Tiger Woods back in the mix, after a very long time.