Vostand » following the fallout from the Hardy conviction

Tiger Woods is ready to play golf again, just three days after it appeared his season was over. The 14-time major winner pulled into Valhalla on Tuesday afternoon, and mere moments after he parked his courtesy car in the spot reserved for him, it was as if someone had stepped on a wasps nest. Security people scuttled around. Photographers shuttered their lenses. TV cameras, which had been staking out the parking spot as if it was Geraldos safe, jumped to life and reporters jostled to hear his first words as if hed just returned from the moon. At one point, prior to Woods arrival, Rory McIlroy rolled in with his courtesy car, rolled down the window and jokingly asked the assembled horde: "Who are you guys waiting for?" He then laughed and maneuvered his car into its reserved spot. But Woods wasnt coming back from the moon or even a year away; he was merely returning from a tweaked back on Sunday. Not the portion of his back he had surgically repaired in March, mind you. Nope. This was a different part of the back that, according to Woods, popped out of place when he stepped awkwardly into a bunker at the Bridgestone Invitational after hitting a shot. "Basically when I landed on the bunker, my sacrum went out," said Woods, sending most within earshot to Google sacrum. "So [I] pinched the nerve and hence the spasm. My physio put it back in and weve just been treating it." Woods spent some time on the range where the horde of TV cameras reassembled to capture his swings, just in case that sacrum did pop out again. But nothing as exciting as that happened. He and coach Sean Foley simply worked on his swing and the balls soared down to the far end. Then, joined by pals Davis Love III and Steve Stricker, Woods headed out onto the front nine, a mass of people following along. If there was any other spectator on the golf course, it was hard to locate them; most were following along as Woods hit shot after shot without a grimace or a twitch. "I felt pretty good about how I played and the shots I hit," he said after the nine. "I need to get more feel for how this golf course is playing. Im not used to seeing the chipping areas like this. We didnt have that in 2000." That would be the year that Woods won his fifth major on this course, holding off Bob May in a playoff. That was nine majors and about a dozen major ailments ago. There might have been another sacrum pop-out during that period but were not quite sure. The fact that Woods is playing the PGA Championship is good news for fans and for television. Certainly the golf world was on the edge of its collective seat awaiting his decision. The media fed the beast with shots of Tigers empty parking space and of caddie Joe LaCava walking the course alone checking yardages, a solitary figure without a bag. Just a day earlier, there was talk of a new era with Rory McIlroy being crowned the new king. Well, that may be the case on the course, but off it? Tiger is still the undisputed ruler. No one turns the volume up as he does. Now well see if Woods can find a golf swing. He hasnt shown anything that resembles the guy who won here in 2000 since returning to play in July following his microdiscectomy. Hes been mediocre and inconsistent. It all makes you wonder what hes doing here, and, in some strange fashion, just what the fascination with his return is all about. You have to wonder if it would just make sense for him to shut it all down and start again in the New Year. To get healthy for the first time in a long time and to not have to worry whether his sacrum is about to pop out or whether hell get another stress fracture or if his neck might twinge. Nope, hell play here and he is in full belief that he can win. Stranger things have happened for sure. We just witnessed one on Wednesday. Jordan 12 Clearance Ireland . 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Air Jordan 12 Ireland . -- Justin Verlander took a no-hit bid into the sixth inning and won his fourth straight decision, leading Detroit over the Kansas City Royals 9-4 Sunday and extending the Tigers winning streak to a season-high five games.CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Panthers defensive end Greg Hardys domestic violence appeal trial set for Nov. 17 has been postponed until after the NFL season, a person familiar with the situation said Thursday night.The person said the new trial date has not been set.The person told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the decision has not been announced.The change could signal the end of Hardys season — and perhaps his career — with the Panthers.The NFL and the Panthers have said Hardy would not play until after his trial was resolved, although he is still collecting more than $770,000 per week as Carolinas franchise player. He will make $13.1 million this year.Hardy will be an unrestricted free agent after the season and it is high unlikely the team will re-sign him.The Panthers placed Hardy on the exempt-commissioners permission list on Sept. 17 after he was convicted in July of assault on a female and communicating threats.Chris Fialko, Hardys attorney, said after the July 15 conviction that he would appeal the verdict, but said that he didnt think the case would be heard until at least 2015 because there were several other cases on the court docket.At that time, that was good news for Hardy since he was allowed to keep playing pending the appeal. He even played in the season opener at Tampa Bay.However, when the tape of Ray Rice hitting his then-fiance became public, the NFL and its teams were forced to be more proactive when it came to domestic violence.Hardy was declared inactive for Carolinas second game of the season and later placed on a paid leave of absence.After the deciision was handed down coach Ron Rivera said he still expected Hardy to be around the teams facility.ddddddddddddBut he hasnt been back since.I believe, from what Ive been told, hes been working out and doing the thing he needs to do, Rivera said in a recent interview. Hopefully, when things are all worked out and everything comes to a conclusion everybody can go forward.Panthers owner Jerry Richardson broke down in tears while accepting an award in Charlotte on Sept. 11 following the fallout from the Hardy conviction.When it comes to domestic violence, my stance is not one of indifference, Richardson said. I stand firmly against domestic violence, plain and simple. To those that would suggest we have been too slow to act, I ask that you consider not to be too quick to judge.Over the course of our 20 years, we have worked extremely hard to build an organization of integrity and earn the trust of our community. I work hard to continue to earn the trust, and I thank you for this award.Hardy has not spoken to the media since he was placed on the exempt-commissioners permission list.In a statement last month released through the team, Hardy said, I am entitled to due process and my day in court, and thats where my focus should be. ... My decision to take a leave of absence allows me to focus on my family until the legal process has run its course.The trial could determine how much money Hardy commands on the free agent market next season. Hardy led Carolina in 2013 with 15 sacks and was selected to his first Pro Bowl.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '