What Kind of a Measuring Stick Will This Hero World Challenge Be for Tiger?

The casual offseason event is a reward for top players but for Tiger Woods it often provides a glimpse into the state of his game.

More Weekly Read: The PIP’s Fine Print | Sweat Time for Some LIV Players | Where Will LIV Play in 2023? | Fore! Things: Sergio’s Fall

For the first time since July 15, when he walked across the Swilcan Bridge at the Old Course and waved his cap to thousands of spectators lining the 18th hole at St. Andrews, Tiger Woods returns to competition this week.

The total number of days between final putt and first tee shot will be 138. It’s an all-too-familiar occurrence in this part of the career for Woods, who turns 47 on Dec. 30.

And the Albany course in Nassau, Bahamas, has become a rather strange dateline in the saga that has seen so many ups and downs over the past decade. After years in Southern California and a one-year stopover in Orlando, the Hero World Challenge, founded by Woods and his late father, Earl, in 1999, relocated in 2015 to a place far removed from the rigors of competitive golf.

Tiger Woods is teeing it up again at the Hero World Challenge (he's pictured at the 2017 Hero) and his game will be closely scrutinized :: Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports

Woods has a home at Albany and can park his yacht in a nearby marina. It’s also been a place he could work on his game in relative solitude.

The tournament is meant as a year-end reward for the top players in the game with a nice purse and an easygoing vibe. It began as the first of several fundraising initiatives for Woods’ foundation.

In recent years, it also has become the measuring stick for Woods and his progress. A rundown:

2015: The Hero moved to the Bahamas for the first time and Woods was a hobbled host. Two microdiscectomy surgeries in the fall made it hard for him to move. At a pre-tournament news conference, Woods—who had not played since August and was about to sit out an entire year—sounded like his career might be over. “I don’t see a light at the end of the tunnel,’’ he said.

2016: Woods made a much-anticipated return, having missed the entire year in 2016 while attempting to come back. During a pre-tournament range session in which Woods looked surprisingly he good, he quipped: “I’m not dead yet." He finished 15th out of 18 players with a Sunday 76, but his Friday 65 had Albany buzzing. It was a promising result. But less than two months later, Woods missed the cut at Torrey Pines, then went all the way to Dubai to play just one round. He was done for the year.

2017: Nobody knew what to expect after Woods had a spinal fusion surgery in April that meant he could not swing a club for six months. As an assistant at the Presidents Cup in September, Woods said, “I don’t know what my future holds." But he soon was hitting balls, releasing short video teases on Twitter, and gearing up for another comeback. He finished tied for ninth, 10 shots back of winner Rickie Fowler, done in a by a third-round 75. But the rest of the golf looked great and there was guarded hope for what was ahead in 2018.

2018: With nothing to prove after an incredibly successful and exhausting comeback, Woods could put the grind aside and serve as tournament host and not worry so much about his golf. He had contended in two major championships, the British Open and the PGA, and won the Tour Championship for his 80th PGA Tour title. It was his first win in five years. He then played (poorly) at the Ryder Cup and was due for a rest. He finished 17th out of 18 players, but nobody cared as everyone was looking ahead to 2019.

No words needed on the 2019 Masters cover

2019: Having won the Masters and then tying Sam Snead with his 82nd PGA Tour victory at the Zozo Championship, Woods was due for another victory lap. But he didn’t have time. The tournament was moved up a day to finish on Saturday so all who were competing in the Presidents Cup could get to Australia, where Woods was the playing captain. He finished fourth in the Bahamas and briefly had a chance to win on the final day before finishing four strokes back of Henrik Stenson. Then he went 3-0 at Royal Melbourne, was ranked sixth in the world heading into 2020 ... then got off to a lackluster start before the pandemic derailed the season.

2020: The tournament was canceled due to the pandemic.

2021: Woods had his first news conference since the horrific car crash in February that saw him in the hospital for weeks and in need of several surgeries on his right leg. He was nowhere near ready to play golf, and Woods very much underplayed any thoughts of a comeback. But while not playing in his event, he spent a good bit of time hitting balls on the range. Amazingly, he returned at the 2022 Masters.

Now the big question is how much did four-plus months help Woods, if at all. Has there been any improvement in the injuries suffered to his right leg? Has he been able to practice?

Woods has signed up for a busy month, with The Match taking place on Dec. 10 and the PNC Championship with his son, Charlie, Dec. 17-18. But those events are with a cart.

The Hero is a four-round no-cut event which means Woods will play four straight days in competition for the first time since the Masters, where he tied for 47th. He made the cut at the PGA Championship before withdrawing after the third round. And he missed the cut at the Open.