Ranking the 5 possible scenarios for Tiger's return

For anyone living under a rock over the last month, Tiger Woods returns to competitive golf this week at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.

Woods hasn't played since withdrawing prior to the second round of the Dubai Desert Classic in February, eventually undergoing a fourth back operation in April to alleviate ongoing pain in his back and leg, ending his 2016-17 season.

With the 14-time major champ back inside the ropes, we rank the likelihood of five possible scenarios this week.

5. Returns to Tiger-like form

The successful back surgery in April was the answer to all of his problems on the golf course. The rumors about looking great on the range and bombing the ball past younger guys like Rickie Fowler are actually true. Woods returns by sending a message to the players present and those watching, winning his first title of any kind since the 2013 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

Likelihood: Tiger has been in and out of the lineup for the better part of four years. There are too many good players in the field, and Jordan Spieth proved this week in Australia that it's difficult to return after a hiatus.

4. Withdraws with back injury

The worst-case scenario for golf fans as Woods grabs his back, forcing him to withdraw and is out indefinitely. For Woods' fan base, this is a bad dream coming true.

Likelihood: His last start ended this way, pulling out prior to the second round in Dubai, and we know what followed.

3. In the mix late Sunday

Tiger's swing and short game perform well for the first three rounds of the event, playing himself into contention with one round to go. The 79-time PGA Tour winner, however, hasn't been in the mix heading into a final round since the 2015 Wyndham Championship, and the rust finally shows up late Sunday. Woods falters on the back nine, but cracks the top five for the first time since finishing second to Zach Johnson at his event in December 2013.

Likelihood: We've seen him in the mix heading into Sunday about a million times in his career, but the last occasion saw Tiger blow up early on the back nine at the Wyndham. Woods went 4-over on Nos. 11 and 12 that Sunday to finish T10.

2. Plays 72 holes, but struggles

He's never a factor the entire week, finishing in or around last place, thanks to a shaky game. Tiger struggles to find fairways off the tee, is average with his iron game, and the chipping yips reappear.

Likelihood: His only PGA Tour event in 2017 at the Farmers Insurance Open was almost this exact scenario, finding just half of the fairways and 55 percent of the greens en route to missing the cut. Woods' short game actually saved him in San Diego, but every golfer knows the yips can come out of nowhere.

1. Solid play with no back pain

Woods plays similar to his return at Albany last year, shooting 4-under par for the week. The 41-year-old feels some soreness playing 72 holes for the first time in 12 months, but doesn't suffer any major injuries. He shows a few signs of brilliance with one sub-67 round, displays a good short game, but continues to struggle off the tee with the driver.

Likelihood: This was the case last year, and fans can expect the same result this time around. Woods will make a lot of birdies, but struggle to grind out pars, writing down a number of bogeys on the scorecard.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)