Felipe Martins and the top spot in the allocation order. Feli

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- The PGA Tour season began five months ago. The new year is two months old. And yet theres something about the Honda Classic that makes Tiger Woods and a collection of stars feel as though its all about to get underway. "I think once we get to Florida, I think were all thinking about our way to Augusta," Woods said. Six tournaments remaining before the Masters, the first major of the year, and this is now serious business. It shows in the strength of the field at PGA National, with seven of the top 10 players from the world ranking. The last time Woods, Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott competed in the same tournament was the BMW Championship near Chicago last summer. Thats how it was a generation ago, when some of golfs top players either rested or played overseas early in the season, and then showed up in tropical conditions at Doral to start the official road to Augusta National. Woods has plenty of work to do based on his early performance -- a missed 54-hole cut at Torrey Pines in his lone PGA Tour start this year, followed by a dismal performance by his standards at the Dubai Desert Classic, where he tied for 41st. He conceded that he spent most of his winter break working on his body instead of his golf. Since returning from overseas earlier this month, Woods said he has spent most of his time working on his short game. Woods isnt the only player coming off a substantial break. Scott, the defending champion at Augusta, hasnt competed since the Sony Open in Honolulu. He spent the following week on the Big Island, surfing and playing a few casual rounds with his buddies, then killed time on the couch or doing anything not related to golf until it was time to get back to work. He plans to play three of the next four tournaments. "After three weeks I kind of felt like I needed to start swinging again and started to get the itch, but I think I timed it pretty well because Ive had a nice couple weeks of intense practice before getting here and a week of playing with some mates before that," Scott said. "I feel like Ive had a nice preparation, but this is a very tough test, and its probably not the ideal one to float back in off after an extended break." PGA National looks to have as much blue (water) as green (grass), and the course is converted into a par 70 at 7,140 yards for the Honda Classic. Michael Thompson won last year at 9-under 271. It wouldnt seem to favour Mickelson, who has not played PGA National since he was an amateur. Mickelson missed the last two weeks because his kids were on spring break, spending some of that time skiing and some of that playing golf. He did not want to fly out from California for one tournament next week at Doral, so he added the Honda Classic. "The greens are really immaculate," Mickelson said. "If you get hot with a putter, you can make a lot of putts. But I do like the golf course. Ive always liked Nicklaus-designed golf courses. I know this course he renovated or redesigned years ago, and its a wonderful test of golf, and I think thats a real credit as to why such a strong field continues to come here." This is only the third time Woods has played the Honda Classic as a pro. He rallied with a 62 in the final round in 2012 to finish behind McIlroy, and then struggled off the tee -- particularly on the sixth hole -- a year ago when he tied for 37th. McIlroy has his own set of memories from PGA National, not all of them good. Even though he won in 2012 to become No. 1 in the world for the first time, he followed that by playing 26 holes last year before walking off the course with his game in disrepair and his business affairs not much better. McIlroy said it was a mistake to quit, something he wont ever do again. But the 24-year-old from Northern Ireland is in a better frame of mind this year. He is comfortable with his equipment. Hes engaged. He has settled into his own management (though he still is going through a legal battle with his old firm). And he is playing like the guy everyone expected to be the biggest threat to Woods. "Im in a better place," McIlroy said. "And I feel like when my game is in a good place, everything else can sort of fall in line with that. It makes me feel more comfortable about everything." Air Max 97 For Sale Australia . The Bulls seem to be getting along fine without him. D.J. Augustin scored 27 points in a start for Kirk Hinrich and Taj Gibson matched a career high with 26 filling in for Carlos Boozer as the Bulls improved to 7-2 since trading the popular Deng with a 98-87 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night. Air Max 97 Buy Australia .J. -- John Elway says Peyton Manning cannot stamp himself as the greatest quarterback in NFL history even if he wins the Super Bowl on Sunday. http://www.cheapaustraliaairmax97.com/ . "Uuufff," was all shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria could come up with after Stantons latest mammoth shot. Air Max 97 Australia Sale .com) - There may be a debate in Philadelphia about who should be the starting quarterback of the Eagles. Cheap Air Max 97 Australia .com) - Hassan Whiteside scored 20 points with nine rebounds in the Miami Heats 83-75 win over the Boston Celtics on Sunday.Harrison, NJ (SportsNetwork.com) - Red Bull New York announced Tuesday that the club has traded Eric Alexander, Ambroise Oyongo, an international player spot and allocation money to the Montreal Impact in exchange for Felipe Martins and the top spot in the allocation order. Felipe made 93 appearances, including 86 starts, in three seasons in Montreal. The Brazilian scored 12 goals and 24 assists with the Impact. In his first MLS season, playing under current Red Bulls coach Jesse Marsch, Felipe finished eighth in the league and led the Impact with 10 assists. We feel that this trade puts us in a great position, said Red Bulls sporting director Ali Curtis. Felipe gives us options going forwardd that will allow us to play the style of soccer that we want to play.dddddddddddd He is the type of player that can make an impact immediately and be a part of our future. Alexander, 26, is preparing for his sixth season in MLS. Montreal will mark the midfielders fourth club since joining the league in 2010. He previously enjoyed stints with FC Dallas and the Portland Timbers before signing for the Red Bulls in 2013. Oyongo fills a need for the Impact at the left-back position. The 23-year-old deputized for Roy Miller with the Red Bulls, but he also is capable of playing in a more advanced position. He provided three assists in 13 appearances with the Red Bulls last term. ' ' '