When Is Tiger Really Coming Back?

This was supposed to be the year of the great Tiger Woods comeback. Yet it's early 2009 and we still don't have a clue as to when Mr. Woods will be back on the course. He has been rehabbing like crazy, practicing with all the clubs in his bag, and hopefully finding himself closer and closer to the form we all know and love, yet, typically, we're still not hearing anything out of Camp Woods.

Lately I have found myself checking the above box (found on the front page of Tiger's website) to see if his status has changed. Has he announced his first tournament yet? When will we know when he is coming back? Why does he hold this information from us? Why?!

In an effort to give everyone a better idea of when Tiger will return, here's a breakdown of the upcoming PGA Tour tournaments and the likelihood that we will see Tiger Woods in the field.

Buick Invitational, Feb. 5-8 -- Since the tournament tees off this Thursday and his name is nowhere to be found, I'm going to just assume we won't see the defending champion back at Torrey Pines for his third win at the course in a year. If Tiger was feeling even 90 percent, I think we'd see him here, just because he has such a solid record and it would make for incredible press, as this was the last venue he played on before the knee surgery in 2008.

AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, Feb. 12-15 -- Since Tiger has never totally expressed his love for long rounds with a bunch of amateurs, and hasn't played at Pebble since 2002, I think you'd have a better chance of seeing "Shane Bacon" in the field than Tiger Woods.

Northern Trust Open, Feb. 19-22 -- Tiger has never won the Northern Trust (previously the Nissan) at Riviera and I'm assuming he will want to come back with a bang to show all the doubters that he can still play and that the new knee is even better than before. The last time he teed it up here was in '06 when he withdrew after the second round. This is another one you can check off as "no chance."

World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship, Feb. 25-March 1 -- Everyone seems to be circling this tournament for his return, but I'm on the fence. Tiger has had success at Dove Mountain in Marana, Arizona, taking the title last year in a thrashing of Stewart Cink. He is one of the best (non-U.S. team event) match-play players of all time and would probably enjoy the format a little more because if he was playing well, he might not be forced to play 18 holes. Also, the course isn't too hilly so the flatness of the course might be enticing.

The only thing I see as a problem is the amount of golf he would be playing if looked like he might win. The tournament starts on a Wednesday instead of a Thursday and the final two days are 36 holes (Saturday is two matches with the Sunday marathon match being 36 holes in the finals). I'd say that is the only thing making this tournament a possible bypass.

The Honda Classic, March 5-8 -- Tiger has never played in this tournament. Think he starts now?

World Golf Championships-CA Championship, March 12-15 -- I think this is where we see him first. Tiger could surprise me and come back for the match play, but I see him taking a little extra time and coming back to this event, that he last won in 2007. Coming back here gives him one more tournament (the Arnold Palmer) to play in before the Masters, making in two tournaments in three weeks before taking his week off prior to a major.