Tiger's Fall Finish Return: Storylines Galore!

I'll be reporting live this week from the Frys.com Open for GolfDigest.com, so check here and there for updates on Tiger's every move. In the meantime...

Tim Rosaforte previews Tiger's appearance in the Fall Finish and reminds that old chums Tiger and Rocco, well, may not be so chummy since Tiger may not have taken too kindly to Rocco's remarks about swing changes exacerbating health problems.  Just hope Rocco doesn't bring a VHarness as an olive branch.

John Strege reports that the tournament is grateful for the addition of Tiger, but it also underscores the lack of additional playing appearances by other stars.

The Frys.com Open hit the jackpot with Tiger Woods, but his appearance in the field this year still underscores what PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem was attempting to achieve with his video appeal to players two years ago "to add a tournament or two to their historical schedules to assist tournaments that historically have weak fields."

Finchem's appeal might have fallen on deaf ears, but he had the right idea.

In this week's Pond Scrum, Elling and Huggan talk about Tiger's return, with Elling noting that Tiger has played just eight competitive rounds since the Masters, making his paltry two starts before the Presidents Cup...paltry.

Huggan: What I still don't get is how this one event -- plus the Aussie Open -- is anywhere near enough preparation for the Presidents Cup. I mean, isn't Tiger being a little disrespectful to Freddie? Can you imagine anyone deciding to play twice in more than two months before a team event? Tiger may have lost his game, but he still has his arrogance apparently.

Elling: Well, Mickelson isn't exactly stacking up on pre-Prez events either, is he? In that vein, I'll be interested in how Woods is received. The tournament site isn't far from where he attended college (albeit, he dropped out after two years) and that mojo from his fans might give him a leg up. Note: That's not an injury joke.

For those alarmed about Tiger falling out of the world top 50, Sean Martin explains that this means nothing to Tiger, unless he wants to play Doral.

Woods can thank Fred Couples for his spot at the 2012 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. Couples’ selection of Woods for the upcoming Presidents Cup ensures that Woods will be at the Bridgestone.

The other WGCs are the only events currently in question for Woods. He’d likely miss next year’s WGC-Cadillac Championship if he’s not back in the OWGR’s top 50 by next March.

The top 30 on this year’s FedEx Cup points list earned entry into next year's Cadillac. Woods failed to meet that criterion. PGA Tour players must be in the OWGR’s top 50 or top 10 in the FedEx Cup standings come next March to earn a start at the Cadillac.