The News In review of the published field put forth by the Tour, it appears two golfers of note, including Charley Hoffman and Michael Sim, have been removed from the list of participants and likely filed for early withdrawal from the Transitions Championship, according to PGATour.com. Our View We were set to name Hoffman as a player to avoid this week and this decision could indicate woes due to injury or peripheral concerns. Hoffman filed for early exit from the Honda Classic two weeks ago as well, and at the Puerto Rico Open he missed the cut by three strokes. Sim has played well and, coming off the WGC CA Championship, is likely due for a rest. Read More

The World Cup of Golf is moving to a new home in southern China and will return in 2011 as a biennial event to accommodate the sport's inclusion in the Olympic Games. Read More

The News It was a South African battle in the final round of the WGC CA Championship today, and as is often true on the PGA Tour, the savvy vet pulled through. Ernie Els carded an oustanding round of 66 (-6) on Sunday at the TPC Blue Monster at Doral to win the CA Championship over Charl Schwartzel, according to the Associated Press. Our View This ends the longest drought of Els professional golf career, a strong statement considering he has 20 years on the pro links. His last victory came two years ago at the Honda Classic. Schwartzel has been as hot as the sun this season but finished four strokes back of Els, a dominating win by PGA standards. This is Els' 61st international win and his 17th on the PGA Tour. Padraig Harrington continued to play well, finishing in third at 11 stroked under par with Matt Kuchar and Martin Kaymer (working with Schwartzel as three of the hottest young duffers in the game) tied for that third spot on the final leaderboard. Read More

Chad Collins birdied the par-5 fifth hole for a share of the Puerto Rico Open lead with Kevin Streelman just before third-round play was suspended because of darkness Sunday in the rain-delayed PGA Tour event. Read More

The News Ernie Els surged on Friday to jump in front of the pack at the WGC CA Championship, carding a round of 66 (-6) to seize a one-shot lead over Robert Allenby before rain and darkness halted second-round play, according to the Associated Press. Our View Els is at 10 strokes under par (134) through two rounds, carding six birdies with no bogeys on the day. Charl Schwartzel (whose father once played against Els) is three shots back at 137 (-7), tied with Bill Haas. Padraig Harrington and Soren Hansen are at six under with defending champ Phil Mickelson at four under. Read More

First-round play resumed in fits and starts Friday as the PGA Tour's Puerto Rico Open has gotten off to a very soggy start. Read More

Italy's Giulia Sergas shot a 4-under 69 to take a three-stroke lead after the second round of the Women's Australian Open. Read More

The News First-round play has been completed and up-and-coming Euro power Charl Schwartzel holds the Day 1 lead at the WGC CA Championship, carding a bogey-free round of 67 (-5) to take a one-stroke lead over an illustrious group that included Ernie Els, Robert Allenby, and Vijay Singh, according to the Associated Press. Our View Schwartzel grabbed five birdies on the day and was one of few escaping the 18th hole without problem. Vijay was in the lead before putting his drive in the drink on the 18th. Els was in the lead until his approach on the 18th went into the water. Allenby was well out in front before posting bogeys on each of his final four holes. Six player are two strokes back of the lead including Paul Casey, Dustin Johnson, J.B. Holmes, and Soren Hansen. Read More

The News Reports breaking late today suggest Tiger Woods will make his official return to the PGA Tour at the first major of the season, The Masters, according to the Associated Press. The AP cites "two people with knowledge of his plans" in noting his intentions to return at Augusta National. Our View Woods has been practicing at Isleworth near his Orlando home the last two weeks, and swing coach Hank Haney flew there during the weekend to work with him. That led to speculation Thursday he was close to playing again. Woods has not played since Nov. 15, when he won the Australian Masters in Melbourne for his 82nd career victory. Woods twice has gone nine weeks without competing before showing up at a major. The first time was in 2006, when he didn't play after the Masters while coping with his father's death, then missed the cut in a major for the first time in the U.S. Open at Winged Foot. Two years ago, he was out with knee surgery until winning the U.S Read More

The News Reports from Florida indicate Hank Haney was on the course with Tiger Woods today, working towards his return to the Tour near Tiger's home in Isleworth, according to Golf Digest. Our View According to sources close to Tiger, Haney, who has helped Woods win his last six major championships, arrived in Orlando on Sunday afternoon will be spending the next few days working with Woods near his Isleworth home. Several rumors are floating about his return but in his public statement last month, Woods said he didn't know when he was planning on returning to golf, and he has traditionally not committed to a tournament until the Friday before an event. We will be talking at length about this in the PGA Hot Topics column for the week, hitting the site tomorrow morning. Read More

The News South Korean teen sensation Noh Seung-yul came through against a seasoned vet on Sunday, posting a birdie on the 18th hole to take the win at the Malaysian Open by one stroke over K.J. Choi, according to the Associated Press. Noh finished the day at four strokes under par (68) to go 14 under (274) for the tourney. Our View Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand, who shared the overnight lead and was looking for his first Asian Tour victory, settled for a share of third place with Soren Hansen and Rhys Davies on 276. Kiradech and Davies shot 71, while Hansen had a 70. Read More

The News Kiradech Aphibarnrat posted a 68 (-4) on Saturday to grab a share of the lead with Rhys Davies at the Malaysian Open, according to the Associated Press. K.J. Choi is one stroke off of the pace that has two men sitting at 11 strokes under par for the lead heading into Sundya's final round. Our View Choi is tied with Thongchia Jaidee and Soren Hansen for that second spot. Choi, aiming for a Malaysian double after his victory in the Iskandar Johor Open last October, put himself back in contention with a 69. Read More