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| January 19, 2003 | Sunday | Ziqa'ad 15, 1423 |
Woods hopes to be in action next month
NEW YORK, Jan 18: Tiger Woods, who had knee surgery on Dec 12, hopes to play his first full practice round of the year next week before returning to tournament action some time next month.
The world number one underwent a successful one-hour procedure to remove fluid inside and outside the anterior cruciate ligament and has already missed the first two US PGA Tour events of the season.
“My rehabilitation is right on schedule and I hope to be hitting all of my clubs by the middle of next week,” Woods said on his official website.
“The doctors are limiting me to 100 balls a day, which is frustrating because it’s hard to work out my flaws. But the good news is that, for the first time in nearly a year, my knee is pain-free.”
Woods, the reigning US Masters and US Open champion, played seven holes at his home course, Isleworth Country Club, on Wednesday but did not hit anything longer than a three iron.
The 27-year-old had not previously missed more than five weeks of tournament golf since turning professional in 1996, and his withdrawal from the season-opening Mercedes Championships in Hawaii was the first of his career through injury.
“I’m hoping to play 18 holes next week...at least, that’s the plan,” said the American. “Assuming there are no setbacks, I would then like to compete somewhere on the West Coast.”
If Woods’s rehabilitation stays on schedule, he will probably make his PGA Tour comeback at the Buick Invitational, to be played at Torrey Pines from Feb 13 to 16.
The first major of the year is the US Masters at Augusta, from April 10 to 13, when Woods will be aiming to become the first man to win for the third time running.
“If the doctors say it’s okay to go and I feel like I’m prepared to play, I’ll give it a shot,” he said.
“I might play two or three events — I just don’t know. Hopefully, I have a long career ahead of me and there’s no sense rushing it.”
Woods watched some of last week’s Mercedes Championships on television and was impressed with the form of winner Ernie Els, who carded a record-breaking total of 31-under-par 261 to clinch the title by eight strokes.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen Ernie swing so well,” said Woods. “He seemed in complete control and it was a great performance.
“I look forward to playing against him in (the European Tour’s) Dubai (Desert Classic) in March. Right now, I’m committed to go — nothing has shown me otherwise.”—Reuters
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