Sports

Tiger, what did you do and when will you play?

The Tiger Woods saga took yet another fascinating turn yesterday and it actually had nothing to do with an aggressive fire hydrant, a smashed-up SUV, a woman alleging he impregnated her, a porn star or even a pancake house waitress.

Woods, continuing his curious public relations bungle, announced he’s going to conduct an 11 a.m. “press conference” tomorrow at PGA Tour headquarters in Florida, where virtually no press will be invited, and he will not field any questions.

Though it might sound crass, the only question most people want answered now is when Woods will play again.

Most recent rumor and speculation has him playing in the Tavistock Cup, a small, invitation-only, inter-club event between Isleworth and nearby Lake Nona March 22-23 played at Isleworth, Woods’ home club and the site of his implosion on Nov. 27.

Some speculation has Woods returning at Arnold Palmer’s Invitational, which begins March 25 at Bay Hill. Woods can drive his boat from his Isleworth home to Bay Hill.

A return that quickly, in a way, seems somewhat unlikely considering sources have told The Post that, since the Nov. 27 incident, Woods has not had contact with his swing coach, Hank Haney, or his caddie, Steve Williams.

There has been some speculation that Woods, fresh off sex rehab at a secluded clinic in Mississippi and reportedly trying to reconcile with his wife, Elin, might take the entire year off.

That would be a debilitating blow to the game and to Woods’ pursuit of Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major championships, which he is four shy of tying.

This figured to be a potential banner year for Woods. Of the 14 majors Woods has won, half have come on the courses the majors are being played on this year — Augusta National for the Masters (four), Pebble Beach for the U.S. Open (one) and St. Andrews for the British Open (two).

Before Woods’ crash, there was speculation this could be the year Woods might win the Grand Slam — all four majors in one year.

Now, as everyone waits with bated breath for what Woods has to say tomorrow, no one is sure if he will even play in any of those events.

One of the biggest questions hanging in the air of uncertainty surrounding Woods is this: Does golf need Woods more or does he need golf more?

For Woods, tomorrow is an obvious effort to begin his image reclamation and show his face in public for the first time since his colossal fall from grace.

Woods will appear in front of one camera and a small group of hand-picked reporters, he will say his piece, surely with contrition dripping from every word, and it’s believed he will talk about what his future plans are about playing.

You can bet that PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem and everyone who has a financial interest in the game of golf are holding their collective breath in hopes Woods says he will return soon.

When Woods missed the 2008 season while rehabbing his surgically repaired knee, the sport was flat, TV ratings sagged dramatically and sponsors were sucking wind in an economy that already was dire straits.

One certain thing about yesterday’s bombshell announcement was its timing.

It was typical of Woods’ vindictive nature and arrogance in that he knew the news he would generate would draw attention away from this week’s Match Play event sponsored by Accenture, the first of Woods’ partners to dump him when the scandal broke.

Woods is supposed to be rehabilitating his shamed reputation, not baring his vindictive side. But, falling in line with the amateur-hour public relations tact he’s been following, Woods either cannot comprehend that concept or just doesn’t give a damn.

mark.cannizzaro@nypost.com