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Tiger Woods makes the scene at Jack Nicklaus’ Ryder Cup party

Brandel Chamblee said Woods' recently tweeted swing looks like that of "an injured, and a put-back-together, 40-year-old man" but that won't keep him away from his Ryder Cup duties.

By Emily Kay
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

For someone who had been in seclusion for two months, new man-about-town Tiger Woods is suddenly everywhere — including at Jack Nicklaus’ home on Thursday night for a U.S. Ryder Cup shindig.

As long as Woods could walk upright — which anonymous sources obviously well outside the inner sanctum posited was a problem for Woods as he continued his rehab from back surgery — it was hardly shocking to learn he attended the Nicklaus party barely a chip and a putt from his Florida home. The 14-time major winner, just a few faces to the right of Phil Mickelson in a photo tweeted by Captain Davis Love III, was one of many U.S. stars gathered to go over strategy for the September-October home game against Europe at Hazeltine.

While the PGA Tour has a decidedly younger look theses days (Lefty’s revival and Sergio Garcia’s first-round lead at the nearby Honda Classic notwithstanding), Woods remains the hottest commodity in the game. Seriously, who else could turn the golf world upside down by a 9-iron in front of a simulator?

The swing Sobel observed was the first one Woods allowed to go viral in six months and three days, noted Eldrick antagonist Brandel Chamblee was less than impressed with No. 445’s effort to shut up the Woods truthers.

"I can say it looks like an injured, and a put-back-together, 40-year-old man," Chamblee said on Golf Channel about the golf shot seen ‘round the world. "It's a very short, quick, golf swing. It doesn't look like he's ready for tournament play."

That would be a 'no duh,' given the rust that must have accumulated on Woods’ clubs and joints since he went back on the DL following October’s third back procedure in nearly two years. But no one ever knows with the injury-plagued aging superstar.

"He's been down the road of coming back from injury many, many times already since 2010. I think reading between the lines he’s more inclined to take a year off," Chamblee said. "Actually, seeing the golf swing, makes you think perhaps not. But I do believe that we're going to see him, when he does come back, he'll be as prepared as he's ever been post-surgery, post-injury."

Another bread crumb dropped by Woods about the progress he’s making in his latest rehab came from Tiger whisperer Tim Rosaforte.

"Woods was actually hitting drivers at the end of last week," Rosaforte said, quoting a "trusted source" (which seems to be more up to speed on Woods doings than the "reliable source" who surfaced earlier in the week saying Woods could barely walk).

Team Tiger’s go-to guy, Notah Begay III, may well be Rosaforte’s insider. If not, his was another voice touting Woods’ improving health and well-being.

"He’s moving along, progressing," Begay said Thursday on Morning Drive. "He’s in a good frame of mind, and I think that’s the most important thing. It’s just about being patient with injuries. You get older, they’re harder to overcome, and I think he’s doing a great job staying patient."

And now back to the regularly scheduled Honda Classic, where Garcia and Michael Thompson, at 5-under through 18, took a one-shot lead heading into Friday’s second round.

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