British Open 2014: Tiger Woods Golf Return is Soon? Already Practicing

Golf fans may be excited to hear that Tiger Woods may be staging a sooner than expected comeback.

In a report by CBS Sports, Tiger Woods is already taking full swings at his home course in Florida.

His agent Mark Steinberg admitted that Woods had been doing longer and more strenuous practices, particularly his drive. Steinberg said, "Tiger is making continual progress. He feels better each day and is extending his swing as he progresses."

According to Golf Digest, Woods was already busy using his driver, and not just the wedges and short irons like he used to. In March, Tiger underwent microdiscectomy surgery on his back. His condition has improved significantly, allowing him do more powerful shots.

Woods generally likes to join major tournaments so it is a possibility that he will be at the British Open which is scheduled in July 2014. He is actually the 7-1 favorite to win the tournament. Other fans believe that he will opt to make his comeback at the Bridgestone Invitational. There are also speculations that he might return in his own tournament, the Quicken Loans National, although experts said that it would be too soon for that.

Another option is the Open Championship at Hoylake. In an article by Yahoo! Sports, Woods is not expected to make his return at Hoylake, even though he won a lot there. In 2006, Woods won his last of three Opens in Hoylake. The venue is quite difficult and would not be the best one for a recuperating Tiger. The Bridgestone Invitational, on the other hand, is a good choice. It is scheduled to begin on July 31. The PGA Championship at Valhalla on August 7 is also a good choice.

The absence of Woods had an effect on the attendance of the U.S. Open. The ratings dropped almost 50% compared to 2013 when Tiger was available. Woods is 11 weeks into his recovery period and did not complain of any lingering pain or discomfort after the surgery. He was putting as early as May and seemed intent on returning sooner than fans expect.

The rest of the golfing world just needs to wait and let Woods continue practicing in private before making an official announcement. Tiger is the kind of player who does not fully rely on his drives to win championships. He hit driver once in winning his 12th major championship. One thing is certain, Woods will not be out for the remainder of 2014.