Nike–one of Tiger’s sponsors–pokes fun at the stars of last season and their reaction to the champ’s return. It’s worth a look:

Phil Mickelson went into the final round of the Northern Trust Open with a five stroke lead, but that narrowed to just one stroke over Steve Stricker by the 18th hole. Just as Stricker was steeling himself for a playoff, however, Mickelson sunk a tough putt for par on the 18th green. Fred Couples, playing in his last PGA season, Andres Romero, and K J Choi tied for third place.

This is Mickelson’s 35th career victory and first time in the top 20 in the last three tournaments.

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Tiger Woods, the best–and most followed–golfer in the world, is returning to competition after a more than eight month hiatus following arthroscopic knee surgery last summer. Woods will make his season debut at the Accenture Match Play competition in Marana, Arizona this week. He is the defending champion in the 64-player, single-elimination, match play event.

Will his game be up to his high standards? Says Woods, “It’s one thing to (play) in a practice environment against some buddies for a little bit of cash. It’s a different deal in a PGA Tour event against the best players in the world. I’m looking forward to the challenge and experiencing that excitement again.”

We’re looking forward to it too.

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LPGA sweetheart, Natalie Gulbis is slated to compete on the latest season of Donald Trump’s “Celebrity Apprentice,” according to NBC. The 26-year-old golfer is one of 16 contestants on the second season of the reality show, which begins on Sunday, March 1. Others vying for the title of “Celebrity Apprentice” and money for their favorite charity include country singer, Clint Black; Heisman Trophy winner, Herschel Walker; comedienne Joan Rivers and her daughter Melissa; and skating champion and commentator, Scott Hamilton.

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Since retiring in 2005, golf legend, Jack Nicklaus has mostly remained out of the spotlight, choosing to play only father-son tournaments. However, spectators and fellow competitors at the Delray Dune-Bethesda Hospital Pro-Am tournament in South Florida got a treat on Monday as Nicklaus joined their ranks for a good cause.

He wasn’t the only legend there. Tom Watson, Lee Trevino, and Gary Player were among those in attendance, but the 69-year-old Nicklaus, who won 18 major titles during his PGA career, drew a eight-person-deep crowd as he practiced at the driving range. Said Nicklaus,

“I don’t know what they’re going to see; they’re just going to see an old man walk around a golf course and shoot 75, or more.”

The man is too modest; I’d have liked to have been among that crowd.

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High winds forced the final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Open to be postponed until Monday. The winds, which gusted to up to 45 mph, were powerful enough to topple a 40-foot pine tree that crossed the third fairway. Originally, the tee start times were delayed for six hours. Later, when the winds refused to subside, play was postponed for the day.

Dustin Johnson is leading Anthony Kim by four strokes going into the final round. Kim is the only player under 25 to have multiple PGA Tour wins.

Michelle Wie, the 19-year-old golf media darling who has yet to live up to her potential, is making her debut as a full LPGA tour member with a strong start. After the first day, she is just one stroke behind leader Angela Stanford at the SBS Open on the island of Oahu in Hawaii, Wie’s home state.

This is the first professional start for Wie since she was disqualified in July at the State Farm Classic. Wie earned her LPGA tour card in December by finishing seventh in qualifying school. Previously, she had played LPGA events on sponsors exemptions.

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One of the 13 founding members of the LPGA, Betty Jameson passed away on Saturday, February 8 in Boynton Beach, Florida. She was 89. Jameson won 14 amateur titles before turning pro in 1945. She went on to win the US Women’s Open in 1947, the Women’s Western Open in 1954, and 13 other LPGA events.

Said LPGA Commissioner, Carolyn Bivens of her death, “As a result of Betty’s elegant ambition, generations of women have benefited from her dedication, vision and sacrifice. We are very sorry to lose her. At the same time, we celebrate her life and her remarkable spirit.”

Jameson was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame and was named one of the 50 most influential women in golf by the LPGA in 2000.

Tiger Woods and his wife, Elin announced the arrival of their second child on Sunday, a baby boy named Charlie Axel Woods. Both mother and baby are doing well. In the statement released on Monday, Woods said,

“Elin and I are thrilled to announce the birth of our son, Charlie Axel Woods. Both Charlie and Elin are doing great and we want to thank everyone for their sincere best wishes and kind thoughts. Sam is very excited to be a big sister and we feel truly blessed to have such a wonderful family.”

This is the couple’s second child. They have a daughter, Sam Alexis, who was born in June of 2007.

Woods is currently recovering from last year’s knee surgery and is expected to return to competition in mid-season. He has stated previously that when he returns is in large part dependent on when the baby was born.

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Footjoys, maker of a variety of golf products, is running another sweepstakes, this one ideal for early season golfers. Each Monday from now until March 1 (2009), the company is awarding a grand prize consisting of a rain suit, raingrip gloves, and a DryJoys bucket hat.

To enter, simply visit the Footjoys site and complete the form. You must be at least 18 years old and a resident of the 50 US states or District of Columbia to enter. You can enter once a week. The approximate retail value of each grand prize is $455.