– Tiger Woods announces that he’ll return to competitive golf following a 15 month absence at the December 1-4 Hero World Challenge held in the Bahamas.

– He originally planned to return at the Safeway Open in early October but withdrew three days before the start of the event.

– Woods thinks that he can still beat Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 Major tournament victories.

After 15 months away from golf the return of Tiger Woods could be imminent. On Tuesday, Woods announced his plans to return to competition at the Hero World Challenge held in the Bahamas December 1-4. The limited field tournament is organized and promoted by the Tiger Woods Foundation and billed as being ‘hosted’ by Woods:

“I am excited to make my return at the Hero World Challenge at Albany and play in this terrific tournament. This is our 18th year, and every year we put together a top field that showcases the best golfers from the previous season.”

The last time Woods played in a competitive golf event was at the 2015 Wyndham Championship. He finished tied for 10th but underwent two back surgeries afterwards. He had originally planned to return at the Safeway Open which was the first tournament of the 2016-2017 PGA Season. After accepting a spot in the field he eventually withdrew three days before the start of the event.

In addition to his role as host of the Hero World Challenge he has some financial motivation to return to active competition. He recently made the media rounds promoting his new ‘personal brand’ TGR: Tiger Woods Ventures. It is the new corporate entity that runs all of Woods’ business and charitable endeavors including the Tiger Woods Foundation. During an interview with Charlie Rose he said that he thinks he can still beat Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 Major victories. He dropped the hint that he’d return at the Hero World Challenge in an appearance on the ‘Late Show with Steven Colbert’. If that’s not an all but official indication that he’s serious this time I don’t know what is.

With Tiger Woods as close to a return as he’s been in over a year we’ve come up with some proposition betting odds on how his golfing career will work out going forward. We’ve also got odds on whether he actually returns at the Hero World Challenge as announced or if he pulls another late withdrawal from the event:

TIGER WOODS PROPOSITION BETTING ODDS

Will Tiger Woods withdraw before the start of the Hero World Challenge? (December 1-4)

Yes: +275

No: -350

Will Tiger Woods tee off in first round of the Hero World Challenge? (December 1-4)

Yes: -300

No: +250

Will Tiger Woods withdraw before completing the Hero World Challenge due to injury?

Yes: +250

No: -300

Will Tiger Woods win the Hero World Challenge?

Yes: +250

No: -300

Will Tiger Woods play in any PGA or European Tour Event before the end of 2017?

Yes: -750

No: +1000

Will Tiger Woods win another tournament before the end of his career?

Yes: -120

No: +100

Will Tiger Woods win at least one Major before the end of his career?

Yes: +300

No: -450

Will Tiger Woods win a Major in 2017? (Masters, US Open, British Open, PGA Championships)

Yes: +950

No: -1350

Will Tiger Woods win the 2017 Masters?

Yes: +3300

No: -4500

Will Tiger Woods finish #1 on the 2016-2017 PGA earnings list?

Yes: +7500

No: -12500

Will Tiger Woods finish top 20 in all four 2017 Majors?

Yes: +1750

No: -2250

Will Tiger Woods finish top 10 in all four 2017 Majors?

Yes: +5000

No: -7500

Will Tiger Woods finish top 5 in all four 2017 Majors?

Yes: +15000

No: -20000

Will Tiger Woods win all four 2017 Majors?

Yes: +50000

No: -75000

Will Tiger Woods tie Jack Nicklaus with 18 Major victories before the end of his career?

Yes: +50000

No: -75000

Will Tiger Woods break the record set by Jack Nicklaus with 19 or more Major victories before the end of his career?

Yes: +75000

No: -100000

Rules: If Woods withdraws from the Hero World Challenge before December 1 all bets contingent on his participation are ‘no action'(eg: will he win? will he tee off? will he withdraw due to injury). All other bets have action regardless of injuries, inactivity or retirement. Any tournament wins in PGA Champions Tour play (formerly the Senior Tour) do not count toward any of the above wagers.