With sightlines looking squarely at the Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty, Tiger Woods has surprisingly joined the 125 for the first Fedex playoff event at uberexclusive Liberty National in Jersey City. Tiger’s caddy Steve Williams will have plenty of opportunity to line up his player at Manhattan landmarks and toward the torch, but word out of Florida, where Tiger scampered home after falling in the PGA in Minnesota, is that he’s got his putting stroke back.

After assuring a majorless year, Tiger has set his sights on the Fedex Cup and The President’s Cup as the climax to his 2009 season. As the leading points getter coming into this week’s opener, Tiger holds a 1276 point lead over Steve Stricker. With a week’s rest, Tiger is breaking from tradition by not skipping the opening event, leading some to ponder why. Perhaps the 2500 points that goes to the winner could catapult any of nearly 20 players ahead of him. Or maybe its just the opportunity to play the most fascinating new course in America while hanging with Elin in New York City between rounds.

The venue is situated on reclaimed property of a former military base. It can be easily reached by car, helicopter or ferry and features a sparkling new clubhouse overlooking New York Harbor with Sydney Opera House designs. The father-son founders of Reebok, the Firemans, are the owners and it takes anywhere from $400,000 to $500,000 (depending on who you ask) to join. Of course, you need to be asked to join and there’s an annual $30,000 or so to stay in.

Only 25,000 will be allowed to trounce the grounds daily, but they’ll get a rare and exclusive look at a course that is as manicured and pampered as its 100 or so members. Among the membership are Patriot owner Robert Kraft and 911 hero-in-his-own-mind Rudy Guiliani.

Meanwhile, the PGA, Jersey City and Liberty National are pulling out the stops. Working furiously for over a month, the tents are in place and nearly a dozen semi trailers have carted in signage, score boards, fencing, golf carts, port-o-jons, emergency lighting, plants, generators and the famed CDW “ShotLink” trailer that will provide computerization to the event and the press tent. Surface roads have been repaved and security is ready to clamp down and reroute the region beginning Monday.

You will be able to buy a cheeseburger at “Bogies” on the course for $7.00, a Panini goes for $8.50 and a “Savory and Sweet Crepe” will cost you as much as $8.75. Michelob and Bud Lite will get $6.00 and an Amstel goes for $6.50.

Tiger’s appearance guarantees a strong worldwide following for “The Barclays” and exposure for Liberty National, New York and New Jersey. All the ruckus from setting up and thunder storms caused by Hurricane Bill chased out a pack of wild dogs that frequent the course on its calmer days into a neighboring gated community early Saturday morning. Says here the dogs chasing the cat this week can’t dent his lead.