As the PGA Tour rolls on, the extended return of Tiger Woods to competitive golf continues to pick up speed.
No longer capable of harmonising the disparate elements of his game as once before, Woods is nonetheless catching fire between various extremes.
Sitting four shots off the lead at the Honda Classic, Woods is confident that he is getting closer to claiming his 80th PGA Tour title.
Halfway through the tournament, Woods is once again comfortable talking a good game:
Well, I'm right there in the ballgame. I feel like I'm right there. I'm right where I can win a golf tournament.
You know, four back on this golf course with 36 holes to go ... anybody can win this golf tournament right now. It's wide open.
Throughout the 36 holes played thus far, Woods has been showing some of the traces that still captivate fans of golf.
Having previously failed to realise the expectations that many continue to have for the 14-time Majors winner, there was an unusual serenity to his play as he hit the first birdie of yesterday's round on the 4th.
Drive. 🎯
Approach. 🎯
Putt. 🎯
Picture perfect.@TigerWoods makes his first birdie of the day. #QuickHits pic.twitter.com/FLLjfPlyTJ— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 23, 2018
At the mid-point of yesterday's round, Woods appeared more content than recently stated with the adulation and attention the Florida crowd were paying him.
BIRDIE for @TigerWoods.
He's now T10.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/e2ADCi2RUv— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 23, 2018
On the 11th, fans were even treated to lesser-spotted 'fist-pump'.
The FIST PUMP.
Oh, it's back.
Will it be this week's #MustSeeMoments winner?https://t.co/EnqKxqbpf0 pic.twitter.com/lJjPywH7ee— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 24, 2018
Nearing the close of day, this approach shot and finish demonstrated the kind of consistency throughout a round that Woods has previously found increasingly difficult to deliver.
A sweet approach ✅
A bounce-back birdie ✅
Tiger is back to T15.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/zMYrPbGynp— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 23, 2018
With two more rounds of golf to go at the Honda Classic, the leaderboard is incredibly tight. Tied 14th, but only those four shots off the joint-leaders Jamie Lovemark and Luke List, a run of good shots could see Woods make an unlikely ascent toward the top.
And, irrespective of how long it has been since Tiger Woods has actually had a say in the closing days of a PGA tournament, nobody is going to want to see him chasing up behind them.
