Tiger Woods’ return? NBC analyst bullish after caddie’s insider info

It’s been a long time since we’ve seen Tiger Woods compete in a real tournament. But one NBC analyst received some insider information on Tiger’s play at a recent exclusive event, and he reported some very encouraging signs about the 15-time major champion’s game and health.

Eight-time PGA Tour winner and current NBC golf analyst Brad Faxon competed at the exclusive Seminole Pro-Member tournament on Monday, March 3. Also in the field? Tiger Woods.

While Faxon didn’t play alongside Tiger at Seminole, his caddie in the afternoon had carried Tiger’s bag in the morning. Faxon couldn’t help but question the caddie about how Woods’ game had looked.

Then Faxon joined hosts Bryan Hayes and Jamie McLennan on TSNto share what the caddie saw from Tiger at Seminole. And if you’re a Tiger fan, you’re going to like what he had to say.

“He said Tiger drove it out there with Keegan [Bradley] on every shot. He walked 18 holes with not even a limp. I don’t think it’s an issue,” Faxon said. “He’s certainly in condition to play.”

The big question, though, is when Woods will make his return. He underwent his latest surgery last year, and then played the PNC Championship with his son Charlie in December.

He initially planned to make his PGA Tour return in February at the Genesis Invitational, which he hosts. But following the death of his mother, Tida, Woods decided to skip that event.

We’ve also seen Tiger play in the TGL indoor golf league this year, though he also missed one match following his mother’s death.

When he returned to TGL, he was asked about when he planned to make his PGA Tour season debut. But his response was not encouraging.

“I really haven’t thought about golf,” Tiger said at the time. “So I don’t think I’m going to be thinking about it for just a little bit here.”

Since then, he announced he would not play in this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, though he did, of course, play in the Seminole Pro-Member on Monday.

Most people believe Woods will play the Masters next month, but whether or not he makes a start before then is an open question. The next obvious opportunity would be next week’s Players Championship, which Faxon provided some insight on as well.

In his TSN interview, Faxon admitted he hopes Tiger tees it up at the Players, but he isn’t quite confident based on Woods’ history at the event.

“He hasn’t played in the Players in a while. I think we’ve seen Tiger when he’s come out to play say he’s not competitive,” Faxon told TSN. “But if he’s going to make the Masters his debut, I would hope he’d come play a tournament before to try and get his feet wet, and hopefully for us, for NBC, and for all the fans, it would come at the Players Championship.”