Good Friend Mark O'Meara Says Tiger Could Be Back as Soon as February

In golf news these days, there are basically two things to talk about -- Tiger Woods and Tiger Woods' bum knee.

The top golfer in the land (as of now) has been quoted as saying he has absolutely no clue when he will be back on the links in top tournament form, but Mark O'Meara said he could see Tiger being back as early as February.

"Tiger is doing really well and he is pleased with the way the operation went," said O'Meara.

"I'm afraid the (Dubai Desert) Classic (on Jan 29) is coming round a little early for him to be able to defend his title. That's a real pity. He is going to aim for a return in late February or early March.

He is not going to start hitting balls until the end of December so it would be pushing it for him to come here in January. I imagine he will make his comeback in one of the Florida tournaments. His plan is to play a couple of events before the Masters [in April]."

The Tiger Camp is pretty solid about keeping all the little secrets to themselves but this is fairly good news for the March tournaments. It is also interesting that the time of his comeback could be right around the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, a tournament Tiger won last year because, as you know, he is pretty unstoppable at match play.

If it isn't the Accenture in Tucson, I could see Tiger showing his face at Bay Hill for Arnold Palmer's tournament. That begins March 13, which Tiger also won last year. If that was the return, he could play Bay Hill, which he has won five times, and get to tee it up at the WGC-CA Championship, which he won in 2007. That would be two elite tournaments before the Masters, which might just be enough for Woods at Augusta.

Latest Tiger Woods Photos

Tiger Woods (L) watches the Tampa Bay Buccaneers play the Minnesota Vikings at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, November 16, 2008. REUTERS/Pierre DuCharme(UNITED STATES)

Reuters

Golfer Tiger Woods watches the NFL football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Minnesota Vikings from the sidelines during the third quarter Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

Sergio Garcia of Spain holds the champion trophy during the award ceremony of the 2008 HSBC Champions golf tournament Monday, Nov. 10, 2008 in Shanghai, China. Garcia won the rain-delayed HSBC Champions to take the No. 2 spot in the world ranking behind Tiger Woods, beating Oliver Wilson with a birdie on the second hole of a playoff Monday. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Oliver Wilson of England reacts after missing a putt during a playoff of the 2008 HSBC Champions golf tournament Monday, Nov. 10, 2008 in Shanghai, China. Sergio Garcia of Spain won the rain-delayed HSBC Champions to take the No. 2 spot in the world ranking behind Tiger Woods, beating Wilson with a birdie on the second hole of a playoff Monday. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Sergio Garcia of Spain reacts at the 18th hole during a playoff of the 2008 HSBC Champions golf tournament Monday, Nov. 10, 2008 in Shanghai, China. Garcia won the rain-delayed HSBC Champions to take the No. 2 spot in the world ranking behind Tiger Woods, beating Oliver Wilson with a birdie on the second hole of a playoff Monday. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Sergio Garcia of Spain, center, is escorted by officials and security guards to head to the 18th hole during a playoff of the 2008 HSBC Champions golf tournament Monday, Nov. 10, 2008 in Shanghai, China. Garcia won the rain-delayed HSBC Champions to take the No. 2 spot in the world ranking behind Tiger Woods, beating Oliver Wilson with a birdie on the second hole of a playoff Monday. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Oliver Wilson of England, right, walks with his caddie during a playoff of the 2008 HSBC Champions golf tournament Monday Nov. 10, 2008 in Shanghai, China. Sergio Garcia of Spain won the rain-delayed HSBC Champions to take the No. 2 spot in the world ranking behind Tiger Woods, beating Wilson with a birdie on the second hole of a playoff Monday. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Sergio Garcia of Spain, left, reacts as he became one of two leaders as Henrik Stenson of Sweden, right, looks on at the 18th hole during the final round of the 2008 HSBC Champions golf tournament Monday, Nov. 10, 2008 in Shanghai, China. Garcia won the rain-delayed HSBC Champions to take the No. 2 spot in the world ranking behind Tiger Woods, beating Oliver Wilson with a birdie on the second hole of a playoff Monday. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Oliver Wilson of England lines up a putt during a playoff of the 2008 HSBC Champions golf tournament Monday Nov. 10, 2008 in Shanghai, China. Sergio Garcia of Spain won the rain-delayed HSBC Champions to take the No. 2 spot in the world ranking behind Tiger Woods, beating Wilson with a birdie on the second hole of a playoff Monday. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Davis Love III holds the first place trophy with Mickey Mouse after winning the Children's Miracle Network Classic PGA golf tournament at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 9, 2008. It was the 20th career victory for Love, giving him a lifetime exemption on the PGA Tour. Among active players, only Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh and Phil Mickelson have won more than 20 tour events. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Oh, and back to that knee injury for a minute. O'Meara said he knew of the pain for two years, but couldn't say anything.

"I've known for more than two years how serious his knee injury was," said O'Meara, 51."It was really bad but it was not for me to tell anybody. I had to keep it hush, hush. But the doctors who did the surgery are friends of mine and they let me know the extent of the problem. But it's too late now. We can only look forward."

I wonder if to join Tiger Camp, you have to hold your heart and swear to secrecy? That would be an interesting question to ask Mr. Woods next time he's around.