Tiger Woods is all set to resume his golfing career in the Accenture World Match Play Championship - and Skybet make the world No.1 a 5/1 shot to mark his return with victory.
Woods, who has been out of competitive action since having reconstructive surgery on his left knee the week after winning the US Open in June last year, will be teeing up in an event he has won three times before - but this will be no gentle loosener for him. To win, he'll have to win seven matches in five days - the quarter-finals and semi-finals are played on Saturday before a 36-hole final on Sunday - and Skybet go 11/4 that he loses in the first round, for which Brendan Jones is his provisional opponent.
Still, he must believe that he is fit enough to compete and insists his knee is better than ever: "It's not sliding all over the place. My bones aren't moving. Things that I was dealing with, I don't feel any more. Now it's better than it's been in a decade." So he's talking the talk, but can he walk the walk? We shall see, although I'm sure most golf fans would wish him well and the prospect of a third round meeting with teenage sensation Rory McIlroy (providing the draw remains unchanged) is truly mouth-watering.
Looking further ahead, Skybet are also offering odds on which major he will win next, with this year's Masters 11/4 favourite. That's a standout price as he's as short as 2/1 with some firms for the first major of the year and it would look extremely generous indeed if only we knew his knee was going to stand up to the rigours of tournament golf. As no-one knows for sure (not even Tiger), I would advise a watching brief for now.
Clearly, though, Victor Chandler expect him to pick up where he left off as they make the 33-year-old a 5/6 shot to win four or more US tour events in 2009, the same price for him to win three or less, and 5/1 not to be ranked world No.1 on December 31st 2009. The same firm go 15/8 that Tiger wins one major in 2009, 11/4 two majors, 16/1 for three and 33/1 to achieve the Grand Slam (all four majors in the same year).
It all gets under way at around 7.40am MT (2.40pm UK time) on Wednesday and is live on Sky Sports all five days, during which punters can expect a frustrating mixture of the expected and the unexpected. I've already sharpened my pin and will be posting my picks on Tuesday afternoon. Good luck and welcome back Tiger Woods - we've missed you!