Fowler will be headed to Rome after shooting a (really) low score himself, according to Butch Harmon. The legendary swing coach shared that Fowler made 14 birdies and four pars in a Ryder Cup tune-up at Medalist Golf Club. With Medalist playing as a par 72, that would be a 58 also. There’s just one small twist.

Harmon says Fowler played the “way forward tees” that he and his brother, Craig, play. If that means the “Gold” tees there, then that’s just under 6,000 yards. So not exactly the same test Fowler and Team USA will face at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club next week.

 

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Still, that’s pretty impressive scoring. And it can’t hurt the confidence level as he heads into a fifth career Ryder Cup.

Also, it’s not like Rickie can’t rack up birdies on much longer and tougher set-ups. The guy made a US Open record 10 of them during the first round this year at Los Angeles Country Club. And he reportedly shares the course record at Medalist (62 from the back tees) with Tiger Woods. No big deal.

Anyway, nice round, Rick. Now excuse us as we head to the front tees this weekend.

Main image: Butch Harmon Instagram

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Making progress pic.twitter.com/sVQkxEHJmq

— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) November 21, 2021

Prognosticating can be fun, but perspective is important, too. Golf Digest 50 Best Teacher Mark Blackburn has helped several tour clients come back from serious injuries, and says that there are two important elements to what we see next—the mechanics of Tiger’s swing, and the physical and psychological scaffolding that is required for a comeback to top-level play.

“From a purely Xs and Os standpoint, it’s so exciting to see him swinging the club again, and for him to be doing it in a way that resembles what he used to do,” says Blackburn, who works with Max Homa, Charley Hoffman, Chez Reavie and Adam Hadwin, among other players. “His right leg was clearly severely damaged and is in a sleeve, but he’s able to load into his right side. The injury isn’t stopping him from making an iron swing we all recognize. His backswing looks great. He’s getting back and off his trailside. I think it’s safe to say Tiger can hit irons—and he’s the best iron player in the history of the tour.”

The reality that many players confront—including Tiger after his back surgeries—is that a comeback has to happen within the confines of what the body allows the player to do going forward, which may or not be the same functionally as before. “The first hurdle is figuring out if you’re able to deliver the club the way you used to,” says Blackburn. “Your whole nervous system is geared to that delivery, and changing it is obviously a project.”

Even if you can pass that test with an iron, as Tiger seemingly has here, there’s still lots of construction work to do. “Hitting an iron shot on a range is one step,” says Blackburn. “To play in an event? You have to walk. A lot. And walking is hard. Beyond the walking, you have to be able to hit enough practice shots to be able to prep and play at the highest level. Tiger wants to win, and I don’t think he would want to go out there and play just to play. So there’s a lot of work ahead, I think. But work is something Tiger has never been afraid to put in.”

Added 50 Best Teacher Dana Dahlquist: “What really stands out is that his rhythm looks the same as it was when he was 15—and his dynamics have sustained themselves post-injury. It’s pretty obvious we’re dealing with a very elite athlete. The rhythm and sequence is what it has always been for him—nothing looks hurried or forced.”

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Woods, who was playing with a different group of friends and who was also joined by his caddie Joe LaCava, “looked good,” according to Baker-Finch, who watched the 14-time major champion hit balls on the range as well as some of the shots through the course of his round.

“His swing was smooth,” Baker-Finch told GolfDigest.com via phone. “He looked normal.

“Obviously it’s easier when you’re in your own environment with your buddies than when it’s for real, but he looks to me like he can play golf. I guess a lot of people thought he would never play golf again.”

Now, however, exists the possibility that he could return as soon as his Hero World Challenge Nov. 30-Dec. 3 at Albany in the Bahamas.

Though no one who witnessed Woods’ latest round at Medalist could say for sure when he will play again — Woods’ agent Mark Steinberg didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment — those in attendance do think playing in the event is a possibility for the tournament host.

According to one source, while Woods was walking gingerly around Medalist his power in this latest session was evident. Woods has also been a fixture at the club in recent weeks after having been a ghost all summer.

“He’s been out there a lot lately, which is good to see,” the source said. “He looked really good to me hitting balls on the range. He was hitting driver high and far.”

It has been nearly nine months since Woods has played golf competitively, his last round coming in early February in Dubai, where he shot an opening-round 77 and withdrew the following day because of back spasms. Two months later and after missing the Masters for a second consecutive year, he underwent a fourth back surgery and hasn’t pegged it since. During that time, he was also arrested on suspicion of DUI over Memorial Day weekend, a charge that is expected to be reduced on Friday to reckless driving as part of a Palm Beach County diversion program that Woods will likely agree to enter into.

During last month’s Presidents Cup, even Woods admitted that there is a scenario where he might never play again. Four days later, though, he posted a slow-mo video hitting chip shots, adding that his doctor had cleared him to start pitching.

Slowly, more videos began popping up. On Oct. 7, there was one of “smooth iron shots”; three days later another of Woods hosting a clinic and hitting balls alongside Kevin Chappell; five days after that one of Woods hitting driver at Medalist with the words “Making Progress” in the tweet; and a day after that an ESPN report that he has been cleared by doctors to resume full golf activities with no restrictions. Then the latest video, on Monday, “The Return of the Stinger,” in a play on the upcoming Star Wars movie.

Return of the Stinger. #starwars pic.twitter.com/R7srIDGXjl

— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) October 23, 2017

What does it all mean?

While none of the swings shown on Twitter carried anywhere near the speed of Woods’ heyday, or even that of high-level tour golf, they were at the very least promising.

Woods’ former coach, Hank Haney, responding to Woods’ video of the driver swing, said on Twitter, “That’s a swing he could win with, it’s not across the line and stuck inside coming down, a little stiff looking but it’s good enough.”

Everything seems to be pointing to a Woods return sooner than later. It also wouldn’t be the first time he returned from a long break in the Bahamas.

Last year, Woods came back there following a 15-month layoff that was preceded by two back operations. Though he led the field in birdies with 24 and shot 65 in the second round, he also led the 17-man field in double bogeys and finished two spots out of last place. He ended up playing only three more tournament rounds after that before injury forced him out again.

Wherever Woods returns, he has come a long way from where he was. Again, and at least for now.

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