Is Tiger Woods mentally and physically ready for Bridgestone?

Tiger Woods says he’s back in the game. More than a month after announcing he would not be returning to golf until his leg injuries were fully healed, the star player declared himself “good to go.”

When he plays in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitationalin Ohio, which begins tomorrow, he’ll also be up against longtime friend and rival Darren Clarke. Even as he finished recuperating from his physical injuries, Woods was reportedly texting Clarke “mental” advice during previous competitions.

Mental preparation, especially in golf, can be the deciding factor in a game, studies have shown. Keep in mind, the tournament comes shortly after Woods’ very public separation from longtime caddie Steve Williams, who will also be at the invitational.

But until Woods takes his first swing in a competition, it’ll be unclear which will make the difference, the mental game or the physical one. Studies have shown that knee injuriesare particularly prone to getting reinjured in golf -- so time will tell whether this was the right time to return.

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