Forget the Ryder Cup, I expect Tiger to return for the Masters
THE rumour mill surrounding Tiger Woods’s return to golf has gone into overdrive it seems, but talk of the world No1 missing the entire season are greatly exaggerated, I believe.
Some have suggested he may sit out all four majors and the Ryder Cup in 2010 – but I would be absolutely amazed if his break from the game turned out to be long-term.
All this young man has ever done is play golf and to someone as dedicated and driven as he, you can’t just switch off and live a new life for long.
Indeed, I fully expect this whole business to have blown over for him to return in time for the US Masters in early April. He’d be silly not to.
One thing’s for certain, golf will miss the great man and the whole of golf hopes to see him back playing as soon as possible. He’s the ultimate crowd puller, the greatest of all time.
While Tiger ponders his next move, you can be assured there are a number of Europeans looking to enjoy a small share of his success with a first major title.
Lee Westwood has come so near yet, so far, to winning a major three times in the last couple of years, while young Irishman Rory McIlroy must also be the mix at the tender age of 20.
But I’m going to stick my neck on the block and predict long-awaited major success for Sergio Garcia this year, having also come so close in the past, notably in the Open Championship at Carnoustie in 2007.
They say you have to learn to lose before you can win, and boy Sergio has had enough experience of that!