Woods Swinging Again, But Not at Caddie

When Tiger Woods returns to the world of professional golf next year, so will his caddie, Steve Williams. "Yes, he will," the world No1 said yesterday when asked if the New Zealander would be coming back to work for him in the aftermath of his comments about the world No3, Phil Mickelson.

"I have communicated with Phil, we discussed it. I've talked to Stevie and he feels bad about what happened. I'm dis­appointed that any of this happened at all. But it is over and done with."

Woods' comments put an end to speculation that Williams' indiscretion — he described Mickelson as a "prick" while speaking at a charity function in his native New Zealand — would cost him his job. This was never likely to happen, not least because the pair have formed a close friendship during the nine years they have worked together. But it is clear the caddie will assume a much lower profile than before.

Less clear is the timing of Woods' return to the sport after recuperating from the surgery he had to his injured knee following his victory at this year's US Open at Torrey Pines.

The world No1 has spoken before about playing a couple of PGA Tour events in preparation for the Masters next April, although that might change after it emerged he has already been hitting golf shots at home — weeks in advance of when he was scheduled to return to the practice range.

"I have chipped and putted for a while but now I have started making bigger swings. The leg has responded well. I'm actually stronger in my legs than I have ever been," he said.

In the weeks after surgery Woods was confined to bed, unable to move. He described himself as a frustrated but obedient patient.

"On one level it was absolutely something I would never want to do again," he said of his extended period away from the game. "Then on the other side it's been just the greatest time in the world. For me training every day has been pretty rough but being able to stay at home with Sam [his daughter] and watch her grow is something I wouldn't have been able to do. I would have been playing and traveling quite a bit so from that standpoint it has been a blessing."

Woods' time at home also allowed him to monitor the development of some new rivals, the likes of Anthony Kim and Camilo Villegas, as well as some more established ones, mostly notably Sergio García, who has risen to the world No2 spot during the American's absence.

He had words of praise for all three, but reserved his greatest enthusiasm for the efforts of Padraig Harrington, winner of the last two major championships of 2008.

The Irishman was named the PGA Tour's player of the year earlier this week — an award voted for by the players, and Woods revealed he was among those who marked his ballot against Harrington's name.

"We always knew that after he won his first major — and the way that he won it — he would win again. It gave him confidence and to win two majors proves the first wasn't a fluke. He did it the right way," Woods said. "To see these guys playing better is going to make it more difficult to win events."

If Woods' past dominance of the golfing landscape is anything to go by, it won't be too difficult; injured knee or not.