Regrouped Tiger Woods To Streak Through PGA, Nervous Field Covers Its Eyes

Okay, so he didn't play in last year's PGA Championship at Oakland Hills CC, which is less than 40 miles from Warwick Hills CC—the site of this week's Buick Open.

At Oakland Hills, Padraig Harrington took advantage of the absence of Tiger Woods and his inability to defend his 2007 PGA Championship at Southern Hills.

Actually golf's iconic figure was also defending his 2006 PGA Championship at Medinah CC. You have to go back four years to remember Tiger not playing and winning the PGA.

In 2005, at Baltusrol GC, it was Phil Mickelson the PGA Champion edging Tiger by two strokes.

The 91st PGA Championship starts in two weeks.

But first is this week's Buick Open at Warwick Hills CC in Grand Blanc, Michigan. Next week is the WGC-Bridgestone at Firestone CC in Akron, Ohio.

Tiger played a practice round today with a local Detroit area artist, Bob Seger.

"I played well here in the past, and hopefully I can play well here and keep it going over the next two weeks after that."

That is a major understatement if there ever was a major understatement. The last time Woods played in the Buick Open was in 2006, and he won it.

The week before he won his third British Open at Hoylake.

Then he went on to win his next four official PGA TOUR starts to finish off his year in style—the PGA, the WGC-Bridgestone, the Deutsche Bank and the WGC-American Express.

Winning the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines to start off 2007 meant Tiger Woods won seven straight PGA TOUR events, the majority of which were against world class fields.

"I played well here (at the Buick Open) in the past" is definitely an understatement.

World class golfers and the world please take notice:

"Hopefully I can play well here and keep it going over the next two weeks after that."

Is that a Major overstatement?

Tiger is on the prowl to make sure everyone understands that the missed cut at the last Major, The Open Championship at Turnberry was a fluke.

The world's best golfer has his sights set on winning the Buick Open, winning the WGC-Bridgestone and winning the PGA Championship—three in a row.

Woods was humming that Michael Jackson song "ABC, as easy as 1, 2, 3 or do re, me" while walking to the beat of "Old Time Rock and Roll" a song made famous by Seger.

Literally as he was walking down the 14th fairway today Seger's song was being played loudly in the backyard of the home adjacent to the cozy and quaint Warwick Hills CC.

The 64-year old singer-songwriter got a major kick out of playing a round of golf with the world's best player in the Wednesday Pro-Am.

"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, what a thrill, you know. I mean nine putts on the front nine. He (Tiger) didn't miss a putt on the front nine. I went nine under, so that helped."

It's all about the team. Who says Tiger isn't a team player? But seriously, Tiger is serious about winning his next three starts.

As serious as a heart attack.

"It's something I don't think I've ever done is played two events prior to the PGA. I usually have played one event, and usually it's this event (the Buick Open) when it's the week prior to the PGA."

"We're going to have a busy stretch, and I think that's the way it's kind of turned out with the World Golf Championships, the Majors, and then the playoff events."

Okay make that three in a row plus the four playoff events. Oh that is seven again. Just like in 2006?

"I just gotta put it together at the right time. That's the whole idea. You can't win Majors playing poorly. You gotta play well."

Oh, by the way, Phil Mickelson was in Minnesota today playing a practice round at Hazeltine and is entered in next week's WGC at Firestone CC.

Tiger versus Phil on his way to a third consecutive PGA Championship.

Enjoy the next three weeks of golf!

Andy Reistetter is a freelance golf writer. He follows the PGA TOUR volunteering for the tournaments and working part time for NBC Sports, CBS Sports, and The Golf Channel. He resides in Jacksonville Beach, FL near the PGA TOUR headquarters and home of The PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach.

He enjoys pursuing his passion for the game of golf and everything associated with it. He can be reached through his website www.MrHickoryGolf.net or by e-mailing him to [e-mail]