Reports: Tiger Woods to return to competition soon | Golf

MIAMI — Speculation is heating up that top-ranked Tiger Woods intends to return to competitive golf soon. But where?

Bay Hill? Tavistock? The Masters?

The New York Post — citing two unnamed sources — reported Thursday that Woods would be returning to the PGA Tour in the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Orlando, Fla., on March 25.

Mark O'Meara, a friend of Woods and a fellow PGA Tour player, told Golf Channel he "wouldn't be surprised" if Woods returned in the made-for-TV Tavistock Cup exhibition March 22-23 in Lake Nona, Fla.

Associated Press writer Doug Ferguson reported Woods would remain out of golf at least until the Masters, citing two people with knowledge of Woods' plans. The Masters starts April 8 in Augusta, Ga.

Woods has been practicing at Isleworth near his Orlando home the past two weeks, and swing coach Hank Haney was there during the weekend to work with him. That led to speculation Woods is close to playing again.

The Arnold Palmer Invitational director said he has not been given any indication Woods has chosen the event for his return to the PGA Tour, though plans have been discussed internally for accommodating increased coverage.

"We haven't been told anything," Scott Wellington said. "Hopefully, if it's something factual, we would be the first to know or shortly thereafter. That's where we are at this point."

The New York Post reported Woods is going over plans to play Bay Hill, enlisting the help of Ari Fleischer, the former presidential adviser to George W. Bush, to deal with the anticipated media frenzy.

Woods completed seven weeks of therapy, reportedly for sex addiction, about two weeks ago.

Schwartzel leads

DORAL, Fla. — Five birdies were enough to put Charl Schwartzel among the leaders at the CA Championship. No mistakes is what put him in the lead alone on a rough-and-tumble day at Doral Country Club.

Schwartzel, who got into the elite field with two victories in his native South Africa at the start of the season, managed to get around the Blue Monster without a bogey on his way to a 5-under-par 67. He has a one-shot lead over Ernie Els, Robert Allenby and Vijay Singh in the World Golf Championship event.

Singh was in the lead until putting his tee shot into the water on the 18th hole and making a double bogey.

Note

• First-round play in the PGA Tour's Puerto Rico Open in Rio Grande was suspended because of rain; 18 players teed off before play was stopped.