It’s been quite the offseason

Heard any good jokes lately?

“There is a new book out about the life of Warren Beatty … It says Warren has slept with 12,000 women … They say that barring injuries, Tiger may have a shot at that record.”

David Letterman

It has been an unusual offseason for golf. The sport has gone from the cover of Golf World to the front of Us Weekly. From ESPN to TMZ. From the back page of the New York Post (occasionally) to the front (20 consecutive days). Some guy named Obama bumped it off.

Few bigwigs want to be associated with Tiger Woods and his wandering eye. AT&T, Accenture and Tag Heuer dumped him, as if he were a camera within arm’s length of caddie Steve Williams.

Jesper Parnevik, who introduced Woods to wife Elin, teed off on the world’s No. 1, saying he has “lost all respect for him, primarily as a man and a father.”

Other tour pros have given him support or attempted to look on the bright side.

“This is an opportunity for some great new stories,” Kevin Streelman said.

Still, Woods is on everyone’s mind. Except, seemingly, Tim Finchem’s. The PGA Tour commissioner had this exchange Tuesday with a reporter at the SBS Championship, which began Thursday in Maui.

Q. Have you talked to Tiger or attempted to talk to him?

Finchem: Have I talked to who?

You know, the guy the late-night talk shows love.

A look at 10 storylines as we head into the 2010 season:

1. Tiger, the golfer: Woods announced in December he would take an indefinite leave, and no one has a clue when he will return. The smart money is on the Arnold Palmer Invitational, which takes place near Woods’ Orlando-area home two weeks before the Masters. But that’s a guess.

Golfweek columnist Jeff Rude reported “multiple” players say Woods will not play in 2010, and others believe he will not return in time for the Masters.

2. Tiger, the TV star: The Tiger Effect on TV is pretty simple, according to Nielsen Company. About twice as many people watch when he plays. That fact surely has network officials praying for more than world peace.

3. And now, a word from our sponsors: With as many as 10 title sponsorships up for renewal, this is an enormous year for the tour. When Finchem declared last month he doesn’t “see corporate America backing away from golf over Tiger’s issues,” you wondered if that was 50 percent hope, 50 percent reality. One good sign: BMW inked a two-year extension as title sponsor of its Chicago-area FedEx Cup event.

4. Groove is in the heart: A new regulation will have players shelving their U-style grooved clubs for those that impart less spin on the ball. The expected result: slightly shorter drives, fewer birdies, more bump-and-run shots and a premium on driving accuracy. A bit retro.

5. Phil-ing a role: Phil Mickelson is not only the best player on a Tiger-free tour. He’s the biggest attraction. By far. Mickelson’s emotional U.S. Open bid fell two shots short of a playoff, but his putting work with Dave Stockton helped him win the Tour Championship.

6. Major venues: Pebble Beach, St. Andrews and Whistling Straits will give the season’s final three majors a big-game feel.

7. “Silver” winners a year later: Kenny Perry, Mickelson, Tom Watson and Woods almost won majors last year. Angel Cabrera, Lucas Glover, Stewart Cink and Y.E. Yang did. What about an encore? C’mon, be polite and pretend to care.

8. The Ryder Cup: After slamming the Euros in Louisville in 2008, the Yankees head to Celtic Manor Resort in Wales to defend their Cup from Oct. 1-3.

The captains: Corey Pavin and Colin Montgomerie, who recently told the Irish Times of Woods: “He will come back, but whether he will retain that mystique as an iconic player, I’m not sure.”

9. Young guns: Will twentysomethings such as Anthony Kim, Sean O’Hair, Camilo Villegas, Adam Scott, Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia (turned 30 Saturday) win a major? Please?

10. Now on the first tee … Barry Bonds: A serious drug scandal would hurt this gentlemanly game, especially if Woods continues to be linked to Canadian physician Anthony Galea, who reportedly aided Woods’ return from knee surgery and is facing charges related to importing and exporting an unapproved drug.