KAPALUA, Hawaii — The first day of the new PGA Tour season brought a Tiger Woods sighting.

"Right there, through those trees," a caddie said jokingly, pointing into the distance toward the Pacific Ocean, where a white yacht was cruising along the Maui coastline below Kapalua. "He's on his boat."

For a guy who hasn't been seen in more than six weeks, Woods seems to be everywhere. And while he isn't at the season-opening SBS Championship, his presence looms larger than ever.

Woods hasn't played this tournament since 2005, so his absence is not unusual. Last season began with a similar question - when would he return - only that was from knee surgery, and it was a matter of time. He is gone from golf now because of a shocking sex scandal that led him to take an "indefinite break" while he tries to save his marriage.

Indefinite could mean anything from two months to all year.

In the meantime, the PGA Tour faces a pivotal year in renewing title sponsorships and laying the groundwork for negotiations on a new television contract. The Americans have a Ryder Cup to defend in October. The major championship rotation features three of the most famous datelines in golf - Augusta, Pebble Beach and St. Andrews.

Every season contains questions, yet every answer winds its way back to one player.

Pat Perez was asked for his list of questions about 2010 on the PGA Tour, and he wasted no time rattling off two of them.

"When is Tiger coming back?" he said. "And where the hell is he?"...

Questions for a new season all start with Tiger