Tiger Woods: Strong Performance in Presidents Cup Won't Mean Tiger Is Back

Tiger Woods is playing golf. In a major event. Against top-flight competition.

Have we...have we gone back in time a couple months?

Nope, it's just the Presidents Cup, otherwise known as golf's every-other-year attempt to stay relevant at a time when the sports calender is normally overloaded (I say "normally" because there's no NBA right now, nor will there be for some time).

There was some uncertainty a couple months ago whether or not Tiger even deserved to play in it, but that's water under the bridge now. The Presidents Cup is underway, and Tiger is indeed playing in it. Essentially, what he is trying to do is end 2011 in style, by showing that, despite all evidence to the contrary, he still has it.

Say what you will about Tiger, but it would certainly be nice to see him end 2011 on a high note. It suffices to say that this hasn't been his best year under the sun, as it's been riddled with poor performances and injuries that have combined to create a portrait of a golfer who is a shell of what he used to be.

But lest you get all excited, just know that a strong showing in the Presidents Cup wouldn't necessarily mean that Tiger is back.

No sir, it wouldn't be that easy. In order to be back, truly all the way back, what we need to see from Tiger is not so much one great performance. What we really need to see is consistent success spaced out over a number of tournaments over a number of weeks and/or months. He wouldn't even have to win anything. If he's competitive on a consistent basis, that's good enough.

We're going to have to wait to see something like this. There's not going to be a whole lot of golf to be played for Tiger after the Presidents Cup. There will instead be plenty of time for Tiger to rest and recoup, during which he will be anticipating his 2012 debut at the HSBC Championship in Abu Dhabi late January.

For all intents and purposes, that's where Tiger's comeback trail will pick up again. Assuming he stays healthy, the tournaments will keep coming, and Tiger will keep playing.

If and when he starts playing well, that's when you are permitted to start whispering that he may be back. But not a moment before then.

Remember, we're playing with high standards here, people.