>>McIlroy To Skip Bridgestone, Play in French Open

The last two golfers to win the WGC Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club in Ohio are Irishman Shane Lowry and Ulsterman Rory McIlroy. One (McIlroy) will not play Bridgestone this year, and the other (Lowry) could follow suit.

So what's so special about the French Open? Well, there are two main things. The first is that it's good prep for the British Open, which comes two weeks later.

"I feel that playing in the 100th Open de France at Le Golf National will be the best way to get ready for The Open, which is just two weeks after the French Open," McIlroy told the European Tour.

The second is that the European Tour (of which McIlroy is a member) is no longer sanctioning the Bridgestone Invitational and is instead counting the French Open as two events (which is important to players like McIlroy and Lowry who need to play five non-majors and WGC events to maintain European Tour status).

>>Tiger Back on the Course

Tiger Woods opened up Bluejack National in Houston on Monday with some swings.

There had previously been reports that Woods has been playing holes in Florida over the past few weeks. Tim Rosaforte of Golf Channel said last week that Woods has been "involved in a series of four-to-five-hour practice sessions at Medalist Golf Club … including the playing of some holes," while Notah Begay noted Tiger was on the “back half of his progression” when it comes to his recovery from back surgery.

But Woods himself said his outing in Houston -- where he opened up his first domestic golf course design and showed off his swing for a crowd of people -- was the very first time he's played any holes since last August.

"I'm definitely a little tired but I feel pretty good," Woods told ESPN after the event. "I haven't been out here playing like this. I hadn't played any holes until today. I know people have said I've played holes back at Medalist, but I haven't. This is actually the first time I've played holes since Wyndham. It's been awhile."

Even Woods is surprised he's in this position after appearing a dead man walking at the Hero World Challenge in December.

Despite registering for the U.S. Open, Woods has no set date for a return. The lack of holes played (unless he's flat out not telling the truth) would suggest we won't be seeing him all that soon.