If you’ve managed to stay off the internet for the entire week, then I’ve got some exciting news for you: Tiger Woods announced he is playing in the 2017 Hero World Challenge.

No more back surgeries, no more time off, no more legal issues, no more speculation on when he will play again. Tiger will tee it up in competition on November 30. That leaves us one last question; “What place will he finish?”

For the record, I was asked the same question and predicted he’d finish 18th out of the 18 players in the limited field. But what do I know? We put the same question to our GolfWRX members to vote, and here are the results they came back with.

See the full poll results and comments here.

Second (0.54 percent)

*Apparently no one was bold enough to predict in the comments that he would play well enough to contend, but not well enough to get the job done on Sunday while wearing his power red. 

Top-5 (3.26 percent)

*Top-5 and not win? Again, no GolfWRX members put their commenter names on the line to make that prediction.

Win (3.80 percent)

sekrah: Anyone who thinks a healthy (key word obviously) Tiger Woods can’t play high level golf anymore, they are out to lunch. You don’t just lose “it” when you are that great. Muscle-wise, 42 is not that old for golf and he keeps himself into great shape. Now is he legitimately pain free to point where he can practice regularly without interruption?? That’s the million dollar question.  With previous long layoffs and limited playing time because of extreme nerve pain the last 4 years, he’s still shown flashes of great golf. If he’s healthy and can practice a full time schedule, pain free?  I’ll bet anyone here he wins on tour again and contends for majors.

WD, or withdraw (14.13 percent)

80sFredrickson: Let’s just hope the guy can stand after 4 rounds

QuickFeet: It will be a victory in its self if he finishes 72 holes without hurting his back or coming away with another injury. I’ll be surprised if he can be competitive with the top players in the field.  I think it will take several tournaments, playing 4 rounds, before he can regain an “A” game that may allow him to win, if that is even possible now.

18th, or last place (23.37 percent)

youngwaldo: He will have some great shots no doubt but last place is what will happen and I am one of his great fans. 

leventhalc: I bet he will crack the top 20 haha

cradd10: The only way he doesn’t finish last is… if he invites me to play in field.

Top-10 (27.17 percent)

bladehunter: He finished 15th last year and dropped from top 10 on the last day with 4th round 76. So an even par 4th round is a solid top 10 last year. And led the field in birdies, so id take that bet.

Dave230: Middle of the pack I think. Show some glimpses but make a few silly mistakes. It’s a fairly soft event, small crowds, limited danger, and with no cut you’ll get some guys who just don’t have it at all for the week. 

straightshot7: I will guess he finishes 7th (I know it’s ambitious but I want to he optimistic). As others have said, I’ll be happy if he just finishes 4 rounds without setbacks to his health. 

Top-17 (27.72 percent of votes)

Debow: T-11th

Santiago Golf: Very doubtful that he finishes top 10. Though it wouldn’t surprise me if has a round in the 60s. Key thing here is he doesn’t have more than one blow up hole all week and play with in himself.

In light of Tiger Woods’ return to the public eye as an assistant captain at the Presidents Cup, and his admission that his future in the game remains uncertain, GolfWRX Member Need4spd raises the question highlighted in the headline: “Does Tiger Woods need golf more than golf needs Tiger Woods?” Piggybacking off a Golf.com video, this GolfWRX forum thread has seen more than 125 replies this week and is heating up.

The responses are excellent, with many revolving around the idea that, putting aside how much we want to see him play, a return to golf may not be what’s best for Woods personally (although it would surely be difficult for the 14-time major champion).

Mackepa writes: “I genuinely believe time away from golf and the lime light is best for Tiger. Just let him have something close to a normal life.”

MidwestGolfBum writes: “Golf isn’t going to go away because he isn’t playing. There may be less interest in it at the professional level from people who don’t actually play the game like when Tiger was in his prime, but it’s not going to die as so many have predicted.”

And dbleag has an excellent take: “I am reading ‘The Fine Green Line: My Year of Golf Adventure on the Pro-Golf Mini-Tours,’ by John Newport. He meets Ivan Lendl at a mini-tour event in Florida where IL shoots 73/83.

“They discuss whether IL is trying to get good enough to go on to the PGA Tour. Lendl admits that he isn’t nor will ever be good enough to play at the highest level, but he has “competitiveness” in his blood and has to be in an environment which allows him the rush that tennis used to give him.”

To the Lendl point, Woods mentioned in his press conference yesterday that he’s been playing competitive golf since he was four. He misses it. He wants to get back to it. Certainly, if Woods were able to remain healthy, a return has substantially less downside than the grim pattern of coming back, getting hurt, needing another surgery, and being cast into that dark place again.

Great discussion with no shortage of variables to consider.

Discussion: Have your say in the thread

The GolfWRX forums exist so golfers have access to the latest equipment releases, hottest discussions, real equipment reviews, best instruction, new technologies and everything golf you can imagine. So if you love golf, the GolfWRX forums are your sanctuary.

In the From the Forums weekly feature, we bring you the hottest, most buzz-worthy topics from our forums for your convenience. I’ll be your trusty tour guide to navigate the latest buzz. Here’s a peek behind the curtain into golf’s sanctuary.

Your favorite Scotty Cameron…ever!

Simple enough question. Numerous possibilities. Plenty of passion. An excellent thread in theory turns out very well in practice as mattd1206 asks for WRXers favorite Scotty Cameron models. Check it out if you’re a sucker for Scotty.

See the thread.

Forged + forgiveness + beauty? 

Different golfers. Different handicaps. Different wants and needs in a golf club. Mfm22 is looking for a forged iron that offers a measure of forgiveness and is aesthetically pleasing? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and forgiveness in a forged iron is highly subjective, so this is an interesting thread to peruse.

See the thread.

How common is using fewer than 14 clubs? 

14 clubs. If you were just coming to the game of golf, you’d think that was a lot, wouldn’t you? How many weapons could you get by with if you had to? Five? Six? Spartan6910 poses the question to the forum faithful: Do any of you carry fewer than 14 clubs (and why)?

See the thread.

Jack Nicklaus’ Rolex 

(Photo credit: Hodinkee)

Fantastic stuff here as the Golden Bear tells the story of a Rolex (the only watch he’s ever owned!) that he’s worn since the 1960s. Ebrasmus21 spotted the video on Hodinkee and shared it with the community. An absolute must watch, and the forum chatter is top-notch as well.  

See the thread.

Peeping PGA Tour tax documents 

Ever wondered what the PGA Tour’s (non-profit organization that it is) Form 990 looks like? Ebrasmus21 (again!) dug it up. And while the form itself is interesting, it’s the five pages of hot takes from GolfWRX members that are worth your time. Interesting stuff.

See the thread.