Tiger Woods Finally Returns to Golf

Finally.

Finally, we saw Tiger Woods hit the shot we've waited on him to hit at the moment we expected him to hit it, on the stage that was built just for him. The 18th hole, a trick shot in hand, around a tree, away from the water, between a bunker.

Tiger's second shot into 18 was one of the best we've seen from him this season, reminiscent of the second shot he hit last season on the 18th hole at Harding Park during the Presidents Cup in terms of reaction, but nothing close to perfect in terms of execution.

We've waiting on Tiger to do something like he did on the back nine at Pebble Beach on Saturday for a while, but that doesn't mean it still wasn't surprising when he did it. A huge birdie on the 16th that brought about a fist pump circa 2001, followed by a curling putt on 17 that nobody makes, and then the two-putt birdie on 18 that was seemingly disappointing considering the incredible shot he pulled off around the tree.

His 66 brought him well within sight of his buddy and leader Dustin Johnson, who has played exceptionally well this week, but it gives us a chance to once again see if the name "Tiger Woods" brings the rest of the field to their collective knees.

On Saturday I wrote that Phil Mickelson was a changed man, but it seemed that the changes are coming with Woods, who didn't have any problems on his back nine, creating roars the likes we haven't seen since his Augusta days.

Before this week I didn't think Tiger had a shot at taking home this championship. After Saturday, I don't see how he won't.

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