Agent reiterates there is no timetable for Tiger Woods' return

Tiger Woods hit golf balls in public for the first time in months at a junior clinic on Thursday night, and Golf Channel reported Friday that he is considering making his return to competitive golf at the Wells Fargo Championship and Players Championship in the coming weeks.

But Woods' agent, Mark Steinberg, said nothing has been decided.

"Chatter is just that," Steinberg said in a text message. "Literally nothing new to report. That is truth."

Two weeks ago Steinberg acknowledged that Woods had started hitting drivers at his home course, The Medalist.

"I don't know when he'll be back," Steinberg said on April 6. "I think it's just part of the process. He is not setting a time to return. I want to be clear there is zero timetable. He's happy to get out at Medalist and take another step. I know whenever we have anything to say, it leads to the thought that he's coming back. It doesn't. He's just taking it step by step."

Woods, 40, has not played since August, when he tied for 10th at the Wyndham Championship. Since then he's had two lower-back surgeries, the last on Oct. 28. In media comments at a December golf tournament in the Bahamas, Woods said his recovery was going slowly.

In subsequent website posts, Woods has disclosed improvement. Before the Masters, he announced he would not play in the year's first major because he was "not physically ready."

Golf Channel's Tim Rosaforte reported Friday that "all indications" point to Woods returning in Charlotte at the Wells Fargo Championship, which begins on May 5. The Players Championship is the following week at PGA Tour headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

Woods made an appearance Thursday and Friday for Nike at the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley in South Carolina. Rory McIlroy appeared at the tournament last year.

As part of a clinic on Thursday night, Woods, according to several social media posts, hit shots, including a driver that carried more than 300 yards. Woods' friend and former teammate at Stanford, Notah Begay, asked questions of Woods while he hit shots for those assembled and explained his practice routine.

Video of Woods at the clinic appeared in several posts on social media Thursday night.

Woods is scheduled to officially open his first domestic golf course design, Bluejack National outside of Houston. He has until next Friday to commit to the Wells Fargo Championship.