Tiger to Return at Accenture ... Maybe

Some 24 hours after Tiger Woods' wife, Elin, gave birth to Charley Axel, the couple's second child, the world's best golfer had his swing coach on the phone. Apparently, Tiger's really close to making his triumphant return to the PGA Tour. And let me just say: hurry.

Yes, Camilo Villegas has played well, but Anthony Kim and Phil Mickelson have not. And while it's nice to see young guys like Nick Watney win big events, it's no substitute for Eldrick. Obviously.

The question then, of course, is when, exactly, Woods will tee it up.

The answer comes from the unlikeliest of sources: Champions Tour vet Tom Jenkins, who's playing in the Allianz Championships this week. While talking to the media following his second-round 67, Jenkins offered this juicy Tiger-related tidbit:

he [said] Mark O'Meara told him the world's No. 1 player plans to return at the Accenture Match Play Championship. If Woods doesn't begin his comeback from knee surgery there, Jenkins said, he'll be playing the CA Championship at Doral and then Bay Hill. ...

"I understand his leg is great and he's stronger than ever," said Jenkins, who, like Woods, recently underwent knee surgery. "I'm looking forward to seeing it."

Get in line, Tom. The PGA Tour has become something of a bore without Woods, although much of that can be blamed on the early-season schedule. It's tough to get excited about the Hawaiian events, the Hope is more about the celebrities (unless you're George Lopez), and for me, the season doesn't really start until the Buick Invitational. (Although, even if healthy, Woods might not have played the event -- Buick dropped him earlier this year.)

As to Jenkins' "revelation" on when we might expect to next see Woods ... eh, it's not all that revealing. Two weeks ago, Bacon pointed out that the Accenture (Feb. 25-March 1) was the date most prognosticators had circled on their calendars, followed by the World Golf Championships (March 12-15).

Whatever, we'll definitely know something this week: Tiger has till Friday to enter the Accenture.