Charlie McCann from Stan James previews the US Open Golf where all eyes will be on Tiger woods who makes his return to action following his personal nightmare.

Tiger Woods Return to Action in the US Masters

Tiger Woods’ eagerly-awaited return to the golfing fraternity will ensure that the 2010 US Masters is the biggest tournament in the history of the sport with the world and his wife (and lovers?) tuning in to see if the world number 1 can somehow put the trials and tribulations of the last five months behind him and win a fifth Green Jacket and a fifteenth major title.

It would be an extraordinary feat, even by Tiger Woods’ own remarkable standards, if he was able to win a 72^nd PGA Title at Augusta, but it should be noted that Tiger did limp his way to success in the 2008 US Open (his last major title) at Torrey Pines when short of match practice having prematurely returned from injury to his knee that subsequently led to corrective surgery.

On that occasion the eyes of the world were largely sympathetic to Tiger Woods’ plight as he hobbled his way to an improbable play-off victory, but the iconic American admitted to ESPN in an exclusive interview recently that he was nervous about the reception he would receive when stepping out at the Masters next month.

Woods remains the 7/2 favourite with StanJames.com for the 1^st major of the year and 33/1 to land the grand slam. Talk of the slam may appear fanciful at this stage as the great man prepares for Augusta, but it’s worth remembering that the US Open is being held at Pebble Beach in June where Tiger won the title by a record 15 shots in 2000, and the 150^th Open Championship is to be held at the home of golf at St Andrews in July where he landed the Claret Jug by eight shots in 2000 (his first Open title) and by five in 2005.

Tiger’s first major success came back in 1997 at Augusta when as a 21-year-old he went out in 40 shots (4 over) on the first day but finished on  270 18 under par for a record 12 stroke success. A star was born thirteen years ago and for the vast majority of the intervening period Tiger has purposefully, and often arrogantly, strode the fairways of the world safe in the knowledge that he was the king.

In the wake of the revelations of his extra-curricular affairs it is likely to be a humble almost sheepish Tiger who tees up next month. During his sabbatical we have seen a renaissance in the fortunes of the Big Easy Ernie Els but Brits Rory McIlroy (28/1) and Lee Westwood (20/1) have made modest starts to the year and StanJames.com make 2004 and 06 Masters Champion Phil Mickleson (7/1) the biggest danger to Woods with his length off the tee and brilliant short game a perfect fit for Augusta.

Leftie himself has had his own personal problems in the last 12 months with wife Amy diagnosed with breast cancer and he will be looking for a decent showing at Bay Hill this week (Champion ion 1997) to boost his confidence ahead of his bid for a hat-trick of Green Jackets.

It is asking a great deal for Tiger Woods to be back to his brilliant best at Augusta next month but we saw a limping Woods prevail at Torrey Pines and perhaps a repentant and rusty Woods will be good enough for the 2010 US Masters.

StanJames.com; US Masters 2010 ~ Tournament Outright, (ew 1/4 the first 5)


7-2       Woods, Tiger

7          Mickelson, Phil

16        Harrington, Padraig

16        Stricker, Steve

20        Els, Ernie

20        Westwood, Lee

22        Casey, Paul

25        Goosen, Retief

28        McIlroy, Rory

28        Poulter, Ian

28        Villegas, Camilo

28        Ogilvy, Geoff

33        Furyk, Jim

33        Johnson, Dustin

33        Kaymer, Martin

33        Singh, Vijay

40        Cabrera, Angel

40        Garcia, Sergio

40        Johnson, Zach

40        Kim, Anthony

40        Stenson, Henrik

50        Bar

Tiger Woods Specials ~ Tiger Woods 2010 Number of Major Wins?

5-4       None

13-8     One

7-2       Two

14        Three

33        Four

US Masters 2010 ~ Tournament Outright W/O Tiger Woods, (place terms: 1/4 the first 5)

13-2     Mickelson, Phil

14        Harrington, Padraig

14        Stricker, Steve

18        Els, Ernie

18        Westwood, Lee

20        Casey, Paul

22        Goosen, Retief

25        Mcilroy, Rory

25        Poulter, Ian

25        Villegas, Camilo

25        Ogilvy, Geoff

28        Furyk, Jim

30        Kaymer, Martin

30        Johnson, Dustin

30        Singh, Vijay

35        Cabrera, Angel

35        Garcia, Sergio

35        Johnson, Zach

35        Kim, Anthony

35        Stenson, Henrik

40        Donald, Luke

45        Mahan, Hunter

45        Watney, Nick

45        Choi, K-J

45        Schwartzel, Charl

45        Rose, Justin

45        O’Hair, Sean

50        Cink, Stewart

60        Bar

The Pro’s Say…..