AP Report: Tiger Will Likely Make Return To Golf At The Masters

According to the Associated Press, which cites "two people with knowledge of [Tiger's] plans," Tiger Woods is set to make his return to golf at The Masters.

This of course would mean that he is not planning to play in the Andrew Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill on Mar. 25, as was previously reported earlier on Thursday. The Masters tees off on April 8.

While it is still just an anonymous report (the two sources "spoke on condition of anonymity because only Woods is supposed to release such information"), having The Masters serve as his first time back on the course makes sense, even it it means forgoing a warm-up event like Bay Hill. Simply, there are few clubs that can offer Woods a controlled environment.

He will face only the questioning of accredited media -- if he even agrees to conduct a press conference -- which at the Masters means mostly domesticated golf writers, not the wild animals of the tabloid press.

The galleries, meanwhile, are the most respectful in golf, so Woods won't have to worry about hecklers or anything worse than lukewarm applause.

It would also most likely mean Woods would be playing without much of a chance at competing (he hasn't played in a tournament since Nov. 15). A small price to pay, perhaps, for a somewhat subdued return to golf.

For more on everything Tiger Woods, check out SB Nation's very own Tiger blog, Trailing Tiger.