Question of the week [September 23-29]: Tiger Woods had another surgery performed on Sept. 13, and is expected to be out between eight and 12 weeks. In 2024, Woods played all four majors for the first time since 2019, but made the cut only at the Masters. What should be the realistic competitive expectations for Woods, 48, going forward?

RELATED: The First Call Inbox archive

— — — — — — —

Cooler weather.

James Brock
Atlanta, Georgia
—————

I enjoy the crisp, clear fall weather when you can play with just a light sweater on. And, of course, we have to institute the “leaf rule”.

Bob Norris
Cincinnati, Ohio
—————

What I most enjoy about fall golf is the colors of the foliage. The natural beauty of our trees once they turn colors is simply stunning and makes for a great round of golf.

Reid Farrill
Toronto, Ontario
—————

Living in Houston, Texas, it’s the break, finally — and we’re not there yet — from the heat and humidity of the summer. When we get some cold fronts or even cool fronts, and the high temp for the day is in the lower 80s and the low temp in the morning starts in the 60s, it’s a blessed relief.

Of course, the flip side is that we will experience weather from September through May that has a majority of days that are golf friendly. For me that’s at least 40-plus degrees and only slightly misting or raining.  

Walkable golf. The Bermudagrass grows dormant and you begin to aim for the first cut of rough so your ball will be more hittable than on the very flat and firm fairway cut.

Mark Chatfield
Houston, Texas
—————

Fall to me brings the best of weather and colorful foliage to my area courses — until the leaves drop to hide my errant shots and make putting a clean-up project. 

I tape the big games for later that evening, turn off my phone, and my wife and I enjoy the best Saturday and Sunday afternoon tee times while the crowds stay in to watch their favorite football teams. We wait on no groups and the rounds come in well under four hours, even though I frequently stop to take in the scenery and the crisp air.  

In between shots I realize how blessed I am to be north of the divot and able to think of the Halloween candies I will overindulge; which turkey recipe I will ask for; what I will get my family for the holidays; and what I can do to help those who need these things a lot more than I do.  

Steve Moore
Birmingham, Alabama
—————

The cooler temps mean you aren’t soaked with sweat by the third hole. Once the golf leagues and high school golf seasons end, we can get a tee time with little difficulty.

However aerated greens and leaf-covered fairways are an issue.

Mark Kazich
Darien, Illinois
—————

Front: A flagstick with the autumn colors during the third round at the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open at Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas.

Photo: Robert Beck / USGA