UPDATES AT BOTTOM OF POST --- SOURCE SAYS TIGER WOODS WON'T PLAY UNTIL MASTERS

ESPN reports...

When will Tiger Woods return to the PGA Tour? It depends on who you believe. The Associated Press is reporting Woods intends to remain out of golf at least until the Masters, according to two people with knowledge of his plans. A report in the New York Post has Woods playing in two weeks, at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Orlando.

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The Game On Blog at USA Today says Tiger Woods is coming back to golf in 2 weeks...

The New York Post is reporting that Tiger Woods will return in two weeks and play in the Arnold Palmer Invitational starting March 25. The paper is quoting two sources who say Woods has hired former presidential advisor Ari Fleischer, who now runs a sports communications firm, to help him with a strategy to make his entrance back on the PGA Tour.

For more of this story, visit the Game on Blog. 

The Sports-Odds website agrees and also says Tiger is coming back at Bay Hill. Quote a sources who says they'd be shocked if he didn't play.  

Tiger Woods Returns to Golf March 25 at 2010 Arnold Palmer Invitational: It appears that the return of Tiger Woods to golf will come sooner than anyone expected, as rumors indicate that the fallen golfer will re-emerge on the scene for the 2010 Arnold Palmer Invitational which gets underway March 25th at Bay Hill in Orlando, Florida. According to the New York Post, two sources in the golf community have indicated that Woods has hired some of the best PR people to assist him figure out a strategy and to help him manage his return to the main stage. "They were in his living room this week going over a strategy for how to handle Bay Hill in two weeks," one source said. "I would be shocked if he didn’t play the Arnold Palmer," the other unnamed source stated.

Read more at the Sports-Odds website. 

On The Independent Website, James Corrigan reports that Mark O'Meara says Tiger is coming back at Bay Hill. 

As if the speculation of an imminent Tiger Woods return needed any more bolstering Mark O'Meara last night said he “would not be surprised” if the world No1 decides to play on his team at the Tavistock Cup in 12 days time. O'Meara, who has been Woods' closest professional confidante in his 14 years on Tour, is captain of the Isleworth side in the two-day exhibition match which takes place on the same gated-community complex as Woods' Florida home. And when speaking to the Golf Channel yesterday, the two-time major winner sounded as if he anticipated Woods ending his “indefinite break” from the game a week Monday. “I would not be surprised if Tiger plays,” said O'Meara, who also lives at Isleworth. “Hank [Haney, his coach] has come to town and they're working on stuff they normally work on. I know it's been a rough road these last three months for him and his family, but golf is what Tiger does. The Tavistock Cup might be a right fit to come back. Play that event and then, maybe, Bay Hill straight afterwards.”

Read the rest of this article on The Independent website. 

On a lighter not, Howard Stern had the Tiger Woods Mistress Beauty Pageant recently ---- and drum roll please --- Jamie Jungers has been crowned the winner. Stern organized the pageant following the revelation that Tiger Woods cheated on his wife multiple times. Jamie Jungers, seen in this TMZ video leaving the pageant with a tiara and flowers, also pocketed $75,000 for dishing the most on her and Tiger's relationship is comparison to his other mistresses: Loredana Jolie and Jamiee Grubbs

UPDATE: AP reports that Tiger Woods won't play until the Masters. 

Tiger Woods intends to remain out of golf at least until the Masters, two people with knowledge of his plans told The Associated Press on Thursday. Woods has been practicing at Isleworth near his Orlando home the last two weeks, and swing coach Hank Haney flew there during the weekend to work with him. That led to speculation Thursday he was close to playing again.The two people, who spoke on condition of anonymity because only Woods is supposed to release such information, say he is likely to play first at Augusta National in April.

Read more of this on PGA.com

From GOLF.com

Not long after Tiger Woods returned home and starting practicing, the PGA Tour began checking with tournaments to make sure they were prepared to handle the hype over Tiger getting back to golf. That even includes tournaments he has never played. "We're prepared from a security and media standpoint. We've been watching the media closely, and we've had some weird ones," said Steve Timms, of the Houston Open.

Read more on GOLF.com

Paul Casey talks to the 2010 World Golf Championships - CA Championship press about the finishing hole on the TPC Blue Monster, ranked consistently as one of the toughest on the PGA TOUR.

Rory McIlroy tells the 2010 World Golf Championships -CA Championship press he loves the TPC Blue Monster and that his game is shaping up after some good range work.

Michael Bradley interviewed by PGATour.com

PGATOUR.COM: What are your thoughts as you return to Puerto Rico?

BRADLEY: It will be a lot of fun to defend this year. I imagine the course will be in perfect shape. I want to play well and have the opportunity to win. I am realistic, however, and at the end of the day I hope I have a tee time on Saturday after the cut. I realize how good the players are on TOUR and it is a battle each and every week.

PGATOUR.COM: What did the win in Puerto Rico mean to you last year?

BRADLEY: It was nice in terms of feeling I can still win on TOUR and even more it was nice knowing that I can get in position to have the opportunity to win. Getting yourself into position to win is tough on the PGA TOUR. It was special to be in the lead group again after going through my back injuries. Winning in Puerto Rico was like getting a three-year exemption because it was so early in the year. After having success early in my career it is very rewarding to win at age 43.

More of the interview on PGATour.com

Honda Classic starter Don Chornak likes to be thorough when he announces the players teeing off by listing their top accomplishments. So what have you got? One of the most successful, most eclectic pairings in a pro-am: Jack Nicklaus, NFL quarterbacks Dan Marino and Drew Brees and saxophonist Kenny G, the host of the pro-am. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Brees said.

Read more on PGATour.com

John Daly has prompted his followers on Twitter to complain to a Florida sportswriter whose story published Tuesday outlined the golfer's lengthy PGA Tour disciplinary file, as reported from public court documents. Daly referred to Florida Times-Union golf writer Garry Smits as a "jerk" and posted the writer's personal cell phone number.

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Jack Nicklaus has no idea when Tiger Woods will return to golf, but the Golden Bear expects to see the game's No. 1 player at the Masters. "It would surprise me if he didn't [play]," Nicklaus said Wednesday. "Oh yeah, I can't imagine in a hundred years he is going to miss Augusta. My guess is as a golfer he's going to want to try and play Augusta if he has his other things in order."

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   "I suspect he will play something before Augusta. Your guess is as good as mine, but I would be very surprised if he didn't play something before Augusta." 

John Daly has prompted his followers on Twitter to complain to a Florida sportswriter whose story published Tuesday outlined the golfer's lengthy PGA Tour disciplinary file, as reported from public court documents. Daly referred to Florida Times-Union golf writer Garry Smits as a "jerk" and posted the writer's personal cell phone number. "Call and flood his line and let's tell him how we feel," Daly wrote.

Read more on ESPN.com

In 2010, the Nationwide Tour will travel to Bogota, Colombia for the Pacific Rubiales Bogota Open. Former Nationwide Tour graduate and PGA TOUR superstar Camilo Villegas is excited about the event's arrival in his native Colombia.