Woods could return in March

Jan 8, 2009 - 7:51 PM MCLEAN, Virginia (Ticker) -- The biggest story of the 2009 PGA Tour season may be the anticipated return of Tiger Woods.

When Woods will return from reconstructive knee surgery remains a mystery as the season commences Thursday with the Mercedes-Benz Championship.

However, USA Today reported that the world's best player could be back in March at the Arnold Palmer Invitational or the World Golf Championships-CA Championship.

Woods' 2008 season was derailed when he underwent left knee surgery eight days after defeating Rocco Mediate in a scintillating 19-hole playoff at the U.S. Open in June. It was Woods' second left knee surgery of the year after he underwent a procedure two days after finishing as runner-up to Trevor Immelman at The Masters in April.

"Long-term this is the greatest thing that could have happened, to go in there and reconstruct it. Now it's better than it's been in over a decade," Woods said in December at the Chevron World Challenge he hosted.

Woods does have every intention of going for a fifth green jacket in April, although he's hopeful of playing one event before The Masters.

The Arnold Palmer Invitational, near Orlando, starts March 26. The WGC-CA Championship, outside of Miami, tees off two weeks earlier.

According to the USA Today report, Woods began hitting full shots with short irons last month.

Before his season was cut short, Woods was enjoying a dominant 2008 campaign as he won 10 events, finished second twice and fifth once in 13 worldwide starts.