Experts feel Tiger is a threat again

new york — Tiger Woods may only be three starts into his PGA Tour return but some experts feel the former world number one has shown he still has what it takes to make a meteoric rise up the rankings.

Woods, who had spinal-fusion surgery 10 months ago, has been erratic off the tee but has displayed solid scrambling skills to record two top-25 finishes and reach 389th in the world.

“I wouldn’t be shocked at all to see Tiger make a run into the top 10 (in the world),” Golf Channel analyst and former world number one David Duval told a conference call on Thursday.

“How high he can get, I don’t know, but I wouldn’t be shocked at all if he made a run.”

Woods, 42, showed more than a few glimpses of his vintage best at last week’s Honda Classic where, despite playing on one of the most difficult courses on the PGA Tour, he entered the weekend only four shots off the lead.

The 14-times major champion, whose third-round 69 was his lowest on the PGA Tour since 2015, finished eight shots off the pace in 12th for perhaps his boldest statement yet of the year.

“He’s close to winning a golf tournament,” said former PGA Tour winner and Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee.

“It’s probably a tie between his club head speed and his ability to get the ball up and down again that surprised me the most. I’m not sure which one surprised me the most, but he’s a threat again. And it’s great to have him back.”

Last week’s performance by Woods was so encouraging that his odds to win the April 5-8 Masters dropped to 16-1, according to Westgate Las Vegas Superbook. —