Golf's Storylines for 2011: Tiger's Major Rebound, PGA Tour's Health in the Mix

Filed under: PGA, Masters, Champions Tour

Back from a short winter nap, the PGA Tour returns to Hawaii this week to start another season, bringing with it an assorted shopping list of questions, needs and challenges.

After play begins Thursday at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Kapalua, the new season will drag out for more than 11 full months. If history tells us anything, the long grind will produce new chapters to old stories, fresh faces, surprise winners, disappointing losers, great shots, miserable meltdowns and a fair share of ambivalence.

And when it is finally over, there will be a handful of stories, players and issues that shape the year and impact 2011's place in golf's history book.

Here's 11 for '11.

1. Tiger Woods -- Old news or a new start?

Woods went winless in 2010, the first shutout of his professional career, because of a number of reasons -- including bad golf.

The swing can be rebuilt. He's done it before. The work with new coach Sean Foley, which began in August, should be ready to pay dividends by the time Woods makes his season debut (probably late this month in San Diego).

But can Woods, who turned 35 last week (Dec. 30), again show the mental toughness and confidence that distinguished him on the way to 14 major championships and almost six consecutive years as the world's No. 1 player?

Woods remains four behind Jack Nicklaus' all-time record of 18 major championships and the march that once seemed destined now makes for a good debate.

 

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Source: http://golf.fanhouse.com/2011/01/03/golfs-storylines-for-2011-tigers-major-rebound-pga-tours-he/

Albert Montanes Alessandro Nesta Alex Alexandre Pato Andrea Pirlo