Speculation Rampant around Tiger Woods' Golf Channel Announcement

A big Tiger Woods announcement may air on the Golf Channel Monday morning. However, Woods' agents denied any announcement was coming, telling the Associated Press that the rumors are "erroneous." Yet if the world's former No. 1 does have another proclamation to make, it has pretty noticeable timing, since it would come days before the Open Championship.

Woods already announced that he wouldn't compete in the Open days ago, as pretty much everyone expected. Since he isn't expected to come back for a while, perhaps this new rumored statement would be that he won't play for the rest of 2011.

His knee injury and everything else that's gone against him since Thanksgiving 2009 would probably make a quick return unwise. Therefore, perhaps the best thing for him is to step away for an extended rehabilitation, so he can return in 2012 with perfect health and a perfect focus.

Other than that, it's hard to image what else Woods could say if he does speak. According to Radar Online, he is scheduled to talk to the Golf Channel's Kelly Tilghman at 11 a.m. ET, and what he reveals is supposed to be "special." Shy of announcing his exact return date or stating that he won't play anymore in 2011, not much else would appear to be special enough to announce.

This could just be a way to upstage the Open Championship to make up for not playing in it. Whatever Woods allegedly has to say probably isn't urgent enough to state right now, as he could have waited another week or 10 days to do it. But if he does speak Monday, it would easily upstage the Open Championship just as it starts to build up buzz for Thursday's opening round.

Golf is still trying to go on without Woods, which it might have to do for some time. Yet the game finally found new life when Rory McIlroy dominated at the U.S. Open and immediately became the next big star. If McIlroy contends at the Open and even manages to win, he will be even bigger than Woods -- at least while Tiger is still away.

As McIlroy grows stronger, golf may indeed benefit if he gets to have a few showdowns with Woods when he comes back. In fact, the anticipation for a new Woods-McIlroy rivalry may only grow if Tiger doesn't return for several months. As such, 2012 may be a truly massive year for the sport should the world's former No. 1 get fully healthy and ready to take on golf's next big thing.

But all of that is only a pipe dream right now, especially if Woods is ready for a very long rest. If he makes an announcement to that effect, or any other, it will air on the Golf Channel Monday.

Sources

Radar Online- "Tiger Woods To Make 'Special Announcement' Monday"

Seattle PI- "Woods' agent: Tiger not making any announcements"