Tiger Woods' return could come in Orlando

The “Tiger Woods return” buzz is starting to get louder – and clearer – with each passing day.

Woods’ swing coach Hank Haney flew into Orlando Sunday to spend a few days with his star student on the private practice range at Woods’ exclusive Isleworth neighborhood, according to a report by Golf Digest.

This follows a report last week that Woods was working diligently on his game at Isleworth. Fellow Isleworth resident Charles Howell III spoke with Woods and said the swing looked good.

With all this serious work on his golf game, the widely circulated prognostication that Woods will return to competitive golf this month is starting to resemble fact.

The interclub match between Lake Nona and Isleworth, an all-star exhibition, is set for March 22-23 inside the secure gates of Isleworth. That is followed two days later by the Arnold Palmer Invitational at nearby Bay Hill, a tournament Woods has won six times.

With the Masters at Augusta two weeks after Bay Hill, this seems a likely scenario for Woods first competitive golf since November, when his multiple extramarital affairs became public.

Woods’ undeniable career goal is to break Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major titles. This year’s majors lineup suits Woods to a tee – Augusta, Pebble Beach, St. Andrews and Whistling Straits. It is hard to believe he will pass up even one of these good chances to cut into Nicklaus’ lead.