Tiger Woods tuning up for PGA this week at Akron

Tiger Woods is coming off an injury to make a return to competition this week  at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio.  According to Woods' website, Tiger has been nursing a mild medial collateral ligament strain in his left knee and a strained Achilles tendon in his left leg for a couple of months. 

This week's tournament wll serve as Tiger's tune-up for the PGA Championship where he will vie for a fifth PGA title.  Tiger will be returning this week with a new caddie after abruptly firing his long time bag-man Steve Williams.  

The reality for Tiger is that he will be facing a tough road as he competes against a field at the PGA that will include the hottest players of 2011 like Rory McIlroy that have been playing some incredible golf.  Obviously it will be a benefit to the PGA for Tiger to be back, but any expectation that he will be in contention for a win at the PGA is misplaced.   Tiger is not going to be 100% at the PGA, and not for some time.

Woods is now ranked 28th in the world rankings where Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Steve Stricker, and Rory McIlroy rule to the top 5.

World Golf Rankings - Aug 2, 2011
1 -      Luke Donald,  Eng 
2 -      Lee Westwood,  Eng 
3 -      Martin Kaymer,  Deu 
4 -      Steve Stricker,  USA 
5 -      Rory McIlroy,  Nir 
6 -      Phil Mickelson,  USA 
7 -      Dustin Johnson,  USA 
8 -      Jason Day,  Aus 
9 -      Nick Watney,  USA 
10 -      Charl Schwartzel,  Zaf 
11 -      Matt Kuchar,  USA 
12 -      Graeme McDowell,  Nir 
13 -      K.J. Choi,  Kor 
14 -      Bubba Watson,  USA 
15 -      Paul Casey,  Eng 
16 -      Ian Poulter,  Eng 
17 -      Adam Scott,  Aus 
18 -      Robert Karlsson,  Swe 
19 -      Hunter Mahan,  USA 
20 -      Retief Goosen,  Zaf 
21 -      Kim Kyung-Tae,  Kor 
22 -      Jim Furyk,  USA 
23 -      Francesco Molinari,  Ita 
24 -      Martin Laird,  Sco 
25 -      Alvaro Quiros,  Esp 
26 -      David Toms,  USA 
27 -      Ernie Els,  Zaf 
28 -      Tiger Woods,  USA 
29 -      Miguel A Jimenez,  Esp 
30 -      Matteo Manassero,  Ita