PGA Tour : Quick look at the Farmers Insurance Open

THE OVERVIEW

He hasn't won a PGA TOUR event in five years and hasn't won a major in nearly 10 years. In the last 28 months, he's made just four starts worldwide, as back injuries have kept him sidelined while conjecture about his future reached a crescendo. We haven't seen him compete at a TOUR event in a year.

And yet Tiger Woods is the dominant storyline entering this week's Farmers Insurance Open. It's easy to understand why.

'He's the most compelling story in golf - maybe in sports,' CBS analyst Nick Faldo said this week.

The network is beginning its 49th year of PGA TOUR coverage at the Farmers, the first of 21 TOUR events it will broadcast in 2018. Just like a year ago, when Woods last played on TOUR, CBS will offer a heavy dose of all things Tiger. (In addition, PGA TOUR LIVE will also have extensive coverage of Woods - click here for the complete schedule).

The fascination with Woods - the 79-time TOUR winner with 14 majors - may never go away. Although he's far removed from his last appearance in the winner's circle (the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational in early August of 2013), he's never really drifted from the consciousness of golf fans. The curiosity factor of whether he can successfully come back from his plethora of back injuries is the focal point now.

'The world superstar sometimes doesn't do justice to the superior superstars,' said CBS anchor Jim Nantz said when asked why we remain so drawn to Tiger. 'There's a level there that's reserved for just a few - [Tom] Brady, [Michael] Jordan, Woods. I'm talking about contemporary superstars. Megastars.

'Imagine if Tom Brady had taken a step away from the game and we didn't really see him compete for five years. And I know it hasn't been five years for Tiger, but it's been five years since he won. And all of the sudden Tom Brady is going to go and throw the jersey on and No 12's on the field again. What is that going to look like this Sunday? Man, I'm watching.

'Like Jordan decides to come out of retirement after all these years and he's going to play a real game again, not an exhibition. What will that look like? I gotta see that. My day is going to be scheduled around that.

'That's kind of where we're at with Tiger.'

Nantz, who has been a part of CBS' golf coverage for more than three decades, said he has 'not given up' on Tiger making a successful comeback. But he has tempered expectations this week, saying that simply making the cut 'would be for him a good start.'

Faldo, meanwhile, not only will be focused on how Tiger navigates the Torrey Pines fairways - Woods missed eight consecutive fairways to end last year's first round - but also wonders about the 42-year-old's fatigue factor. Faldo said playing in the heat of TOUR competition is much different than the relaxed atmosphere at last month's Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, when Tiger showed some encouraging signs.

'Does he have the stamina for a tournament week, the consistency, because you've got to keep out of that lovely 4-inch rough,' Faldo said.

However it turns out, Nantz and Faldo will be there to describe the action - and the rest of us no doubt will be captivated by Tiger's latest return.

THREE PLAYERS TO PONDER

Jon Rahm

A winner here last year. His last three worldwide starts: two wins and a runner-up. Hottest player in golf unless it's …

Justin Rose

What's he done since the last time we saw him on U.S. soil? Three wins and three more top 10s in seven starts.

Rickie Fowler

In terrific form but Torrey Pines hasn't been kind to him lately - three MCs and a T61 in his last four appearances.

THE FLYOVER

When Tom Weiskopf renovated Torrey Pines North prior to last year's tournament, he reversed the nines, thus making the old 6th and 7th holes (with ocean views) the new 15th and 16th holes. In addition, Weiskopf improved both holes. He reduced the green slope at the par-3 15th, and now thinks it can compete with the South course's No. 3 hole as one of the most memorable at Torrey Pines. 'No, I think it's better than that one,' he told media members during a course preview. As for the par-4 16th, he lowered the green by 10-12 feet to create a bowl effect so that that approach shots might bounce their way onto the putting surface. 'It was not a good hole in my estimation,' Weiskopf said. 'We made it much better.'