Writers' roundtable: Will Tiger dominate in his return?

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The golf world is buzzing about Tiger Woods' Thursday announcement that he will make his return from ACL surgery at next week's World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship. PGATOUR.COM is no exception, so we asked several of our writers to discuss his decision and what we might expect to see next week at Dove Mountain.

HELEN ROSS, Chief of Correspondents: I've learned never to bet against Tiger Woods -- and I wouldn't put it past him to make a statement and win the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship. I don't expect it, though, because there are simply too many variables in match play, even though he is one of its greatest practitioners. Not to mention, the three-time champion came into the tournament those years battle-tested, not playing for the first time in eight months.

Contrary to what some have said, though, I think the Accenture Match Play Championship is a perfect place for Woods to make his debut. He loves match play, thrives on it even, and his enormous will, as much as all that talent, can mean the difference in head-to-head competition. Anyone remember the U.S. Open last year?

Sure, he'd have to play six matches on that surgically repaired knee to win. It's not like he usually goes the full 18, though. Of his 34 non-title bouts at the Accenture Match Play Championship, only six have reached the 18th hole and four others have gone to extra innings. Conversely, five have ended on the 15th hole, five more on the 14th and then there was that infamous 9-and-8 decision over Stephen Ames.

CRAIG DOLCH, Columnist: I think Tiger is making a mistake by returning for the Accenture Match Play Championship for three reasons.

1. He doesn't know the course.
2. The terrain is quite hilly, which could lead to a bad step.
3. He could travel 2,000 miles and play one round -- or six rounds. Neither of which would help him long-term.

I understand why Woods wants to play next week -- the event is sponsored by Accenture, which is one of his endorsees, and he's very loyal to the people who support him and his foundation, which I respect.

Still, it would have made more sense for him to wait two more weeks, then play basically "home" games at Doral in the World Golf Championships-CA Championship and then two weeks later at Bay Hill in the Arnold Palmer Invitational (the only non-major he has played in every year since turning professional). The two courses are flat, and he has a history of flattening his opponents on both layouts.

MELANIE HAUSER, Columnist: I thought he'd wait until Doral -- another course in this world he owns --- but I didn't get a text. So what did I know?

No one's better at match play, yet this is always a wicked week. He's got the chance to put that little problem of being upset by Aussies behind him too, if the draw stays as is and he gets Brendan Jones. Don't think he doesn't know that.

Bottom line? He's back, so that tells me he's ready. And he's been here, done that -- won his first event coming off knee surgery and won the Accenture Match Play Championship. He owns World Golf Championships events, too.

I'm not betting against him. Nor am I questioning his decision. I said he'd be back when he's ready to win. Enough said.

STAN AWTREY, Columnist: Now that Tiger Woods has announced he's going to play at the Accenture Match Play Championship, is there any doubt he will be considered the favorite?

The happiest people to hear of his decision were the tournament organizers, who must now prepare for a door-busting event on Wednesday when Tiger tees it up for the first round. The saddest: No. 64-ranked Brendan Jones of Australia, Tiger's likely opponent that day.

And say a little prayer for the PGA TOUR's Laura Hill, who will be on site to deal with the media storm that's expected to hit.

Was it wise for Tiger to play this tournament? A lot of people probably would have chosen another place to lay down the starting block (Jones is probably one of them), likely at one of the Florida events, possibly Bay Hill. But if Tiger says this is it, you've got to trust him. The guy has pretty good instincts.

After all, he's got a newborn at home, and it's never too early to start socking money away for college.