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Good Thursday morning, golf fans, as we inch closer to Tiger’s return this Sunday in the latest edition of the Match.

1. Tiger ready for the Match

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach…”Tiger Woods is ready to go for the latest edition of “The Match” on Saturday night, even if his right foot isn’t fully healed.”

• “Woods, a 15-time major champion, will team up with world No. 1 Rory McIlroy in a 12-hole match against Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas under the lights at Pelican Golf Club outside Tampa, Florida.”

• “Woods, who was forced to pull out of last week’s Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas because of plantar fasciitis in his right foot, said being able to use a golf cart in The Match will help “a lot.”

• “I can hit golf balls. It’s just hard getting from point A to point B, so [the cart] will certainly help a lot,” he said Wednesday.

2. McGinley denies DP World Tour bankruptcy rumors

Elliott Heath for Golf Monthly…“Paul McGinley has called DP World Tour bankruptcy rumours “absolutely not true” and hailed the strategic alliance with the PGA Tour as a “phenomenal deal” in an interview with the Irish Independent.”

• “Relations have never been better between the two tours,” McGinley told the Irish Independent’s Brian Keogh. “They are working very collaboratively together. We’ve just announced record prize funds and so has the American tour.”

• “I know everybody doesn’t want to believe me and everyone wants to believe the rumours that we’re bankrupt and we were saved by the Americans and all that bulls***. That’s absolutely not true.”

• “We’ve now hitched our wagon to the PGA Tour, and it provides long-term security for every player on the DP World Tour going forward. It’s a phenomenal deal we’ve done with the PGA Tour.”

3. Substation attacks hurting Pinehurst

Golf Channel’s Brentley Romine…”Tens of thousands of Duke Energy customers in Moore County, North Carolina, lost power after police say two power substations were intentionally damaged by gunfire on Saturday night.”

• “The list of those affected includes Pinehurst Resort.”

• “According to Pinehurst’s website, parts of the resort, including all its golf courses, remain open, but the main clubhouse has been closed among other temporary changes.”

• “While Pinehurst Resort has been affected by the widespread power outage in Moore County, we are working diligently to provide our guests with the best experience possible given these challenging circumstances,” the resort said in a statement. “At this time, the resort remains open, and golf is still being played, but we are implementing temporary changes due to limited electrical power throughout the resort.”

4. A special exemption

Golf Channel’s Max Schreiber…”At the tournament he grew up attending, the APGA Tour’s Michael Herrera will make his PGA Tour debut. “

• “The Moreno Valley, California, native has received a sponsor’s exemption into the 2023 Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines.”

• “The Farmers team is proud to congratulate Michael on earning this exemption and making his PGA Tour debut at the 2023 Farmers Insurance Open,” said Jeff Dailey, President and CEO of Farmers Insurance. “Our efforts to support the APGA Tour and grow diversity in the game of golf reflect the value Farmers places on advancing diversity, equity and inclusion as an organization, both on and off the course.”

5. Zalatoris sets a return date

Golf Channel’s Max Schreiber…”Nursing a lower back injury since August’s FedExCup playoffs, Zalatoris will tee it up at Kapalua’s Sentry Tournament of Champions during the first week of January.“

• “A week after notching his maiden Tour victory at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis, Zalatoris was in contention at the BMW Championship. However, during the second round, he injured his back during a tee shot.”

6. Tappen out at NBC

Golfweek’s Adam Schupak…“Golfweek has learned that Kathryn Tappen, who handled post-round player interviews this season, will be replaced by a revolving door of Golf Channel talent already on site, including Cara Banks and Damon Hack. Tappen declined to comment and neither Banks nor Hack responded to messages.”

• “An NBC spokesperson said it had no further comment beyond its previous statement that it “will be announcing any additional changes to our lineup early in the new year.”

7. Lexi ready for QBE Shootout

Golfweek’s Beth Ann Nichols…“Lexi Thompson is back for a sixth time at the QBE Shootout while her partner, Maverick McNealy, is a rookie at the event. The former Stanford star got his first look at Tiburon Golf Course on Wednesday.”

• Thompson, however, competed there just last month at the LPGA season-ending CME Group Tour Championship. She won the CME at Tiburon in 2018.

• “I know he’s good,” said Thompson, when the pair of 27-year-olds were asked what they knew about each other. McNealy commented on their shared competitive drive.

• “We’re not showing up here as an exhibition,” he said. “I want to give us as many good looks from the fairway as possible and just hit it right at the flag. Really excited.”

8. Best celeb foursome Tiger has played with

Our Matt Vincenzi…“With Capital One’s The Match set to take place this weekend, Tiger Woods was asked about the best celebrity foursome that he’s ever played a round with.”

• “Tiger replied: “[John] Smoltz, [Tom] Glavine and [Greg] Maddux when they were all pitching with the Braves. That was epic. I shot 62, 62 and lost money.”

• “The three pitchers combined to win seven National League Cy Young Awards in the 1990s and led the Atlanta Braves to a World Series win in 1995.”

9. QBE Shootout Photos

• Check out all of our galleries from this week’s event