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Tiger Woods will return to the PGA Tour to defend his title at next week’s Memorial tournament in Dublin, Ohio.

 The 14-times Major champion has not competed since he was forced to withdraw from the final round of this month’s Players Championship in Florida because of neck pain.

“The doctors advised me to take a week off and rest, which I did,” Woods said in a statement.

“They prescribed physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication and soft-tissue messages, which I’m continuing with.

“Although I’m not 100 percent, I feel much better and look forward to competing next week.”

Woods, committed to the June 17-20 US Open at Pebble Beach, said he resumed normal practice sessions last week after healing an inflamed facet joint.

The 14-times major champion is a four-times winner of the Memorial tournament which is hosted by Jack Nicklaus at Muirfield Village Golf Club.

Woods has, however, played only three events since returning from a self-imposed exile of five months following revelations about his marital infidelities at the end of last year.

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Nine holes of practice had seen five balls disappear into water, but when Tiger Woods spoke to reporters in Florida it was clear that the state of his game is not his major worry right now.

Four days after crashing to a 79 and missing the cut at Quail Hollow by an incredible eight shots, Woods looked and sounded thoroughly down as he tries to prepare for the £6.2million Players Championship, golf’s richest event.

Amid continuing reports that his Swedish wife is seeking a divorce over the sex scandal that rocked sport five months ago, the world number one admitted that his emotional turmoil is impacting on his golf.

“Absolutely,” said Woods, who has Ian Poulter as one of his two partners in the opening two rounds at Sawgrass and who could lose top spot in the rankings to Phil Mickelson if he is outside the first five on Sunday.

“I’ve had two different low moments. Obviously what I’m going through now and then my father’s death.”

This is the third event of his comeback. In the first he managed what many considered, given the circumstances, a brilliant fourth place in The Masters, but last week was arguably the worst of his career.

Invited to compare this return to golf to last year after an eight-month injury lay-off he replied: “This is more taxing certainly away from the golf course with paparazzi following me and all those kind of things.

“I didn’t have the distractions getting ready for events. You know, helicopters don’t normally fly over you on the range and kind of hover and film you.

“That wasn’t the case then, but that’s the case now.”

And when asked whether he was angry or surprised about the Sports Illustrated article in which nearly a quarter of players polled said they thought he had taken performance-enhancing drugs he answered: “After what’s happened in my life?

“Well, I haven’t taken it. I’ve never taken performance-enhancing drugs, never taken HGH (human growth hormone), never taken any of that stuff.

“But everyone is entitled to their opinion.”

As for how he is playing Woods added in spite of some of the evidence of his morning’s work: “It’s getting better, no doubt. It couldn’t get any worse.

“I don’t like missing cuts (he has only ever missed six as a professional and never two in a row) and it’s just one of those things where just a little bit of work, tighten things up a little bit and get refocused for this event.”

There are rumours that he and coach Hank Haney could be parting company, but on that he stated: “I’m still working with him.”

He was also categorical that the man advertising his “Grand Slam” irons on ebay for 250,000 does not have the real thing.

“They’re in my garage,” he said.

Because of how he played last week Woods is only joint favourite with Mickelson this time - and bookmakers William Hill’s think that has not happened since the 1996 Masters.

Because of how Rory McIlroy played last week - closing rounds of 66 and 62 to win his first US Tour title by four - he is listed as third favourite.

Woods is as impressed as anyone by the Northern Irishman, who turned 21 today.

“Rory hits it past me. I shrimp it out there now,” he said after praising not only McIlroy, but also 18-year-old Ryo Ishikawa for his 58 in Japan on Sunday.

“I think it’s how the game has evolved. With the advent of technology these kids are able to view their swings via a camera and make improvements so much faster and earlier.

“Their golf swings are so much better at an earlier age, even from when I grew up.”

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Organisers of July’s Open championship at St Andrews are in no doubt Tiger Woods will be present to try to become the first player ever to win three titles there.

The world number one, triumphant at the Home of Golf by eight shots in 2000 and by five in 2005, returned at The Masters three weeks ago after five months out because of a sex scandal.

Delighted by the reaction of the vast majority of fans at Augusta, Woods plays again in North Carolina this week and has already committed himself to next week’s Players Championship in Florida and June’s US Open at Pebble Beach.

He has not entered for The Open, but Royal and Ancient chief executive Peter Dawson said today: “Entries close on May 27 and in a normal year he would not have entered yet.

“I am absolutely certain he will be with us.”

This year is the 150th anniversary of the first Open and celebrations include a four-hole past champions challenge on the eve of the tournament.

Seve Ballesteros was the first to put himself down for that, but whether his health enables him to return to the scene of his 1984 victory remains to be seen. The Spanish star is still recovering from four brain operations after the discovery of a tumour.

Nick Price (family reasons), Johnny Miller (other commitments) and 89-year-old Australian Kel Nagle, winner on the Old Course in 1960 and the oldest living champion, have all declined their invitations.

Dawson is still waiting to hear, however, from Greg Norman and Jack Nicklaus. Norman has recently had shoulder surgery, but Nicklaus controversially said at Augusta he would only attend if the Royal Bank of Scotland, one of his sponsors, wanted him to.

There is still hope he will attend and Dawson pointed out that for those champions not competing in The Open itself travel and hotel costs are being picked up by the club.

Security arrangements for Woods are to be discussed with the police, as is always the case, and Dawson admitted he was glad Augusta National and not the R&A were “guinea pigs” in staging the player’s comeback.

“We will be watching what happens with Tiger and discussing the situation with the police,” he added. “We always act on their advice.

“The Masters had a major problem in having no idea what to expect. If we had been first we would have been scratching our heads.”

Prize money has yet to be announced and could be affected by what happens to the economy after next week’s election.

The winner’s cheque remained £750,000 last year and so there is little chance of the first £1million champion being crowned, as will be the case at Wimbledon this summer.

The biggest change to the Old Course comes at the famous 17th, where what is already by common consent the toughest hole in golf is being lengthened by 40 yards to 495 yards.

And this despite the fact it played to an average of 4.63 five years ago, 4.71 in 2000 and 4.79 when Ballesteros won 26 years ago.

That event was effectively decided by Tom Watson, chasing a record-equalling sixth Claret Jug at the time, firing a two-iron second shot over the green, over the road and up against the wall.

The championship committee has subsequently watched players using seven-irons or even less for their approaches in the annual Dunhill Links and wanted to make it more demanding.

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Phil Mickelson (lefty) wins the US Masters as once again Englands Lee Westwood stall’s at the main event.

Phil Mickelson became the thrill-maker once again, pouncing for a third Masters victory in seven years to leave Lee Westwood a nearly man once again.

Champion at Augusta in 2004 and 2006 and with a US PGA title in between, Mickelson put a dreadful start to the season behind him to win by three shots from the Englishman - with a 16 under par total of 272.

Westwood, unable to hold onto the last day lead, already had third place finishes in the US Open, Open and US PGA, but now he has come third, third and second in the last three majors.

A one under 71 was never likely to complete the job and, sure enough, Mickelson shot a bogey-free 67 - and then went into one of the longest televised hugs with wife Amy.

And no wonder. Last May she was diagnosed with breast cancer and her battle goes on. This was her first visit to a tournament since the diagnosis last May.

Although Tiger Woods equalled a Masters record with four eagles in his first tournament back for almost five months - two of them came in his rollercoaster closing 69 for joint fourth place - the headlines will go quite rightly to the left-hander.

It started as the week Woods came back to golf, but it ended as the week when Mickelson proved again he is the world number one’s biggest rival.

With a pink breast cancer badge in his cap to remind people of the battles both his wife and mother have been fighting, Mickelson captured his fourth major in scintillating fashion.

And two shots above all others will be replayed over and over when the story of this incredible week is retold.

First there was his eagle two on the 14th in the third round as he moved one behind Westwood entering the closing 18 holes.

But that was trumped by his second shot to the long 13th on Sunday.

One ahead of KJ Choi after the Korean had just taken a bogey six there, Mickelson hit his drive through the fairway into the trees and onto the pine straw.

In front of him was a gap of no more than four feet between two trunks, but in the manner for which he has become known Mickelson decided to go for the 200-yard shot over Rae’s Creek.

Spectacularly - even he showed that by raising his club in triumph and then punching the air - he hit it to four feet.

It warranted his third eagle of the week there, but although he missed the putt Choi bogeyed the 14th as well.

Westwood, though, matched Mickelson’s birdie to stay two back and still had hopes of making his 50th attempt to win a major the one when he finally broke through.

But the Worksop golfer, with third place finishes to his name in the US Open, Open and US PGA, could not match Mickelson’s two-putt birdie at the long 15th.

Westwood needed something special after that. He could not become the third player to hole-in-one at the 16th on the day, but he did birdie the 17th and Mickelson’s five-footer there was badly needed.

It gave him a two-shot lead rather than just on the final tee and once Westwood had missed his 25-foot birdie putt Mickelson holed from eight for a birdie which put the icing on the cake.

Mickelson commented: “It feels incredible. I could go on and on, so many reasons why, and it’s the most amazing feeling.

“This has been a special day, something I will always cherish.

“It’s been a emotional year and I am very proud of my wife and the fight and struggle she has been through.

“This is one of the best things we have gone through in the last year. We’ve been through a lot and it’s been tough and to be on the other end and feel this kind of jubilation is incredible.”

Westwood said: “We both struggled off the tee early on, but being the great champion he is Phil hit some great shots. The second on 13 was incredible.

“He has been through a hard time and deserves a break or two.

“I just need to keep on doing what I am doing. One of these days the door is going to open for me, but there was time (he slumped from fourth in the world to outside the top 250 in 2002) when I didn’t want to go out and play or practise and couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.

“When I am playing like this I feel like a lucky man sometimes. I think when you have come as close as this there is a tinge of disappointment, but that does not last too long.”

Woods, who mixed his two eagles and four birdies with five bogeys, stated: “As the week went on I hit the ball worse.”

Fourth, of course, was no mean feat given his lay-off and all the attention on his sex scandal, but he added: “I only enter events to win.”

He also said he will now take “a little time off and re-evaluate.” His next appearance could well be the Players Championship in Florida at the start of next month.

Mickelson’s fellow American Anthony Kim, last week’s Houston Open winner, charged into third place with a joint best-of-the-day 65 that included a birdie-birdie-eagle-birdie run from the 13th.

Woods shared fourth with Choi, while Westwood’s compatriot Ian Poulter, the joint halfway leader with him, tied for 10th after weekend rounds of 74 and 73 which were a big disappointment.

Collated final round scores & totals in The Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America

(USA unless stated, par 72):

272 Phil Mickelson 67 71 67 67

275 Lee Westwood (Eng) 67 69 68 71

276 Anthony Kim 68 70 73 65

277 Tiger Woods 68 70 70 69, K J Choi (Kor) 67 71 70 69

279 Fred Couples 66 75 68 70

280 Nick Watney 68 76 71 65

281 Hunter Mahan 71 71 68 71, Y.E. Yang (Kor) 67 72 72 70

283 Ricky Barnes 68 70 72 73, Ian Poulter (Eng) 68 68 74 73

285 Jerry Kelly 72 74 67 72, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 72 75 72 66

286 Steve Marino 71 73 69 73, Trevor Immelman (Rsa) 69 73 72 72, David Toms 69 75 71 71, Ryan Moore 72 73 73 68

287 Adam Scott (Aus) 69 75 72 71, Tom Watson 67 74 73 73, Ernie Els (Rsa) 71 73 75 68, Angel Cabrera (Arg) 73 74 69 71, Heath Slocum 72 73 70 72, Scott Verplank 73 73 73 68

288 Ben Crane 71 75 74 68, Matt Kuchar 70 73 74 71

289 Kenny Perry 72 71 72 74, Bill Haas 72 70 71 76, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 74 72 69 74

290 Yuta Ikeda (Jpn) 70 77 72 71

291 Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 70 71 75 75, Francesco Molinari (Ita) 70 74 75 72, Steve Stricker 73 73 74 71, Sean O’Hair 72 71 72 76, Charl Schwartzel (Rsa)69 76 72 74, Jason Dufner 75 72 75 69

292 Lucas Glover 76 71 71 74, Metteo Manassero (Ita) 71 76 73 72

294 Dustin Johnson 71 72 76 75, Retief Goosen (Rsa) 74 71 76 73, Steve Flesch 75 71 70 78, Camilo Villegas (Col) 74 72 71 77

295 Zach Johnson 70 74 76 75

296 Robert Karlsson (Swe) 71 72 77 76, Mike Weir (Can) 71 72 76 77

298 Chad Campbell 79 68 80 71, Robert Allenby (Aus) 72 75 78 73, Sergio Garcia (Spa) 74 70 76 78

302 Nathan Green (Aus) 72 75 80 75

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If he does then millions of people around the world, and not only golf fans that will tune into the BBC and TV channels around the world this weekend will believe that it is the second coming.

BUT LET’S BE SENCIBLE HERE - IT’S NOT POSSIBLE THE GUY HASN’T PLAYED COMPETITVE GOLF FOR MONTHS, SURELY ONLY MAD DOGS AND ENGLISMEN AND THOSE THAT GO OUT IN THE MIDAY SUN (NAMELY GOLFERS WHO PLAY ON THE COSTA DEL SOL) WOULD BET AGAINST HIM WINNING.

THEN WHY HAVE ALL THE MAJOR BOOKMAKERS IN THE UK AND ABROAD  MADE TIGER FAVOURATE TO WIN.

WELL I CAN REVEAL THE TRUTH HERE AND NOW –

BECAUSE BOOKMAKERS IN GENERAL ARE SENCIBLE CHARACTERS AND UNLIKE MANY GOLFERS AND MAD DOGS AND ENGLISMEN AND THOSE THAT PLAY GOLF IN THE MIDAY SUN (OR RAIN) THEY HAVE CALLCULATED THE ODDS ON TIGER NOT WINNING THE US MASTERS.

After all this is Tiger woods were talking about the greatest golfer off his generation and I am sure history will prove the greatest of all time.

When Tiger Woods returned last February from an eight-month injury lay-off he birdied his first hole and eagled his second.

If he does the same when he returns to golf on Thursday after nearly five months out - for a very different reason - imagine the scenes.  People will start thinking again that he truly is the Chosen One.

Make up your own mind about how Woods deserves to be treated when he steps onto the first tee of The Masters at Augusta at 1.42pm local time, but everybody interested in golf is fascinated to see how he plays.

Is his brain still scrambled from the scandals in his private life which have turned him from role model to villain in many eyes?

Or can his famed tunnel vision turn him instantly back into the golfer who totally intimidates the rest?

It could go either way. And Woods himself probably does not know the answer yet.

He made all the right noises when he said during Monday’s press conference - his first confrontation with a room full of reporters since his extra-marital affairs were exposed - “Nothing’s changed. (I’m) going to go out there and try to win this thing.”

But he expressed similar sentiments entering the 2006 US Open a month after his father died.

It was his first event back and he said after practising at Winged Foot: “I didn’t come back until I felt that I was ready to win a championship. I’m very excited the way I’ve played the last couple of days.”

Woods then went out and shot two rounds of 76 for a 12-over-par total that saw him miss the cut by three.

The following month, however, he successfully defended The Open at Hoylake - and won his next four tournaments as well. It might pay not to draw too many conclusions from however he does this week.

There has been talk of the world number one losing some of his aura now that previously secret unsavoury aspects of his life - past life rather than current life, he insists - have come to light.

He stated on Monday: “It’s not about championships. It’s about how you live your life. I need to be a better man going forward than I was before.”

But does that mean his quest to catch and overtake Jack Nicklaus’ major record - with 14 he is four short - does not burn inside him the same?

Nicklaus doubts that. Asked if he thought Woods still wants the record the Golden Bear replied: “Of course he does. Why do you think he’s here? I mean, I don’t think he’s here for his health or anything.”

The first three of this season’s four majors are at Augusta, Pebble Beach and St Andrews. Half of Woods’ major victories have come on them and Nicklaus fully expected him to be back for them.

On the subject of whether the world number one’s aura is likely to be any different because of the revelations, Nicklaus, who tomorrow joins Arnold Palmer in hitting the ceremonial opening drives, is unequivocal.

“As a golfer no. I mean why? It’s had nothing to do with him as a golfer.”

So the Woods era, already 13 years old, is set to go on. And on. And on. He is, after all, only 34 and could be at the top for another decade or more.

But there have to be doubts about this Masters. He has to be rusty and he has to have a lot of things going on in his head.

He is the clear favourite and so it could never be called a huge shock if he wins. But nor should anybody be stunned if he fails to make it to the weekend.

For the first six hours on Thursday, though, the Augusta National course is a Tiger-free zone.

He is in the penultimate group and 90 of the other 95 players will be in action by the time he hits that opening drive - on a hole that has caused him more problems than any.

Woods has had just three birdies in 58 attempts and is a cumulative 15 over par. As for the long second he has never had an eagle, so if he does start with a pair of threes, feel free to go wild.

As for the other 95 there are no fewer than 25 Europeans - and many have to be considered in with a great shout.

Lee Westwood, Paul Casey, Ian Poulter, Martin Kaymer and Padraig Harrington are all in the world’s top 10, with 20-year-old Rory McIlroy only just outside.

They are not seen by the bookmakers as the two main dangers to Woods, however. Twice champion Phil Mickelson, despite a poor start to 2010, and Ernie Els, twice a winner in the past month, are the two.

But do not forget that the last three winners were actually Angel Cabrera, Trevor Immelman and Zach Johnson.

In other words, anything is possible, except one thing. Woods holds centre stage before a ball is struck.

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The Tiger Woods circus rolls into Georgia amid much hype and speculation for next week’s Masters where the disgraced world number one will make his highly anticipated return to competitive golf.

The 14-times Major champion has selected the best possible environment at Augusta National for his US PGA Tour comeback but no one, Woods included, knows how he will fare in his first tournament back after a break of almost five months.

Although he enjoys a huge comfort level at a venue where he has triumphed four times, he has not competed since winning the Australian Masters on November 15 following startling revelations that he had a string of extra-marital affairs.

While his golfing abilities and mental strength are the best of his era and arguably of all time, his emotional state of mind is likely to be an unknown factor when Woods tees off in Thursday’s opening round.

South African Ernie Els, who has won his last two events on the US Tour, expects the game’s leading player to cope with the distractions and intense media scrutiny at the Masters.

“Tiger is just a different player,” the three-times Major winner said in the build-up to the year’s first Major.

“He’s the one guy who probably could make (next week) a success. But it’ll be tough.”

Woods said last month he was apprehensive about the reception he will get from the fans at Augusta following his stunning fall from grace at the end of last year and efforts to salvage his marriage to his Swedish wife Elin.

While global media interest in the Masters is certain to reach unprecedented heights, Els had no concerns the April 8-11 event would be adversely affected.

“From our perspective I don’t think it’s going to influence the tournament at all, not in a negative way,” he said.”I think it’s going to be fine.”

For Open champion Stewart Cink, next week’s Masters will rank as the most extraordinary of all, given the wide range of Woods storylines.

“It’s going to be one of the biggest events in golf history,” the American said.

“The biggest player in golf history is going to come back from this absence and everybody is going to be scrutinising his game, what he says, where he goes and where he has dinner - everything.

“It will also end up being a great tournament because he will probably end up in the mix. It’ll be really compelling.”

Television ratings should be back to their best and possibly beyond for what CBS news and sports president Sean McManus recently said would be “the biggest media event other than the Obama inauguration in the past 10 or 15 years”.

Woods is ideally suited to the par-72 Augusta layout, which was stretched to a formidable 7,445 yards for the 2006 Masters, making it the second-longest course in Major championship golf at the time.

The 34-year-old American is among golf’s biggest hitters, has a superbly creative short game and is arguably the best putter of all time from inside 15 feet.

Augusta’s biggest challenge comes on the slick, severely sloping greens and Woods has become well acquainted with their nuances since making his Masters debut as an amateur in 1995.

Suggestions Woods might struggle to shake off the rust in his game after his self-imposed exile are scoffed at by compatriot Cink.

“We’re talking about Tiger Woods, the best player that’s ever played golf,” he said.

“I’ve seen the players who are usually in that conversation. I’ve never seen anybody that plays golf like Tiger Woods does. So the answer to that question is yes, I believe he can be a factor.”

While the US Tour reappearance of Woods will overshadow anything else likely to happen next week, several other players have the credentials to win the prized Green Jacket.

Experience is always a prized commodity at Augusta and Els, who has posted six top-10s at the Masters, plus twice champion Phil Mickelson are almost certain to be in the title hunt.

Other likely leading contenders include three-times Major winner Padraig Harrington of Ireland, Britons Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter, American Steve Stricker and double US Open champion Retief Goosen of South Africa.

Long-hitting Angel Cabrera of Argentina defends the title he won last year after a nerve-jangling playoff with Americans Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell.

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Seve Ballesteros believes Tiger Woods can make a winning return to golf at The Masters in a fortnight.

Ballesteros, recovering from the discovery of a brain tumour nearly 18 months ago, has been in Madrid this week to support the city’s bid for the 2018 Ryder Cup and said: “I am pleased to see that Tiger Woods made the decision to come back and has finally decided to compete.

“I think that this is the best news that golf can have right now and I wish him good luck. He has a good chance to win The Masters this year, of course.

“If he decides to compete in the Masters it is because he knows that he has a good chance.

“We all know his potential and he knows the golf course very well, so I think he has a great chance to win.”

Woods announced he was taking an “indefinite break” from golf in December, and two months later confessed to a number of extra-marital affairs in a lengthy statement.

Earlier this month the world number one revealed his intention to return to action at Augusta National, the scene of four of his 14 major victories.

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Tiger Woods is in vintage form, driving the ball further than ever and fully capable of winning next month’s U.S. Masters, according to two practice partners.

Woods announced last week he would make his comeback at the Masters from April 8-11 after an indefinite break from golf to try to save his marriage following revelations of repeated infidelities.

The world number one practiced on Monday at Augusta National Golf Club, the site of next month’s Masters, according to the Golf Channel and ESPN.

American John Cook, who has 11 PGA Tour wins, said he had played rounds with Woods on Thursday and Friday and hit balls with him on Sunday.

Asked, after play at the Tavistock Cup at Isleworth where he would place Woods in the Masters on the basis of his form, Cook told reporters: “From what I’ve seen of the last three days of ball striking, first.

“I don’t see anyone that hits the ball like he does. We all know that that’s not the whole battle, there are a lot of other issues there for him, but as far as ball-striking goes, if he takes that up there, it’s vintage,” he added.

“Vintage, I’d be hard pressed to see anyone beat him, that being said, you have to go up to the first green and mark your ball and you have to finish out and sign your name at the end of the day, that’s a whole different deal.

“I’d be hard pressed to see anyone beat him but it will be his first rounds of golf for five months.”

Arjun Atwal, who said he had played almost every day last week with Woods, said he was driving the ball even further than he had in his last competitive appearance in November.

RELAXED MOOD

“He is hitting it just fine — he is hitting it longer than before, there is no doubt and he feels like he is not totally ready but I have seen him win with what he has right now, plenty of times,” Atwal told reporters.

“I think he is ready but you know him, until he has every aspect right he isn’t going to go out there.”

Both Cook and Atwal said that Woods was in a relaxed mood on the course, in contrast to the tense figure who appeared in television interviews on Sunday.

“He’s very mellow now, he’s very chilled out, obviously whatever is going on at home I don’t know, I don’t even ask him, when he is out with us you can see that he is more at peace right now. I think he is doing all the right things,” said Atwal.

Atwal, who said he could see Woods being in the top five at the Masters and winning if he putted well, said there was no indication of any rustiness in Woods’s game.

“Nothing, nothing at all…he’s killing it, he’s absolutely killing it,” he said.

“He thinks he isn’t putting very well but we see for us mere mortals, it seems okay.”

Britain’s Ian Poulter, though, said it was pointless guessing what Woods could or could not do at Augusta.

“We are all speculating, I just hate this nonsense talk of speculation, we don’t know how he is going to play, I just hate all the chit-chat, I’m bored of it,” Poulter said.

“It’s going to be difficult for him but he’s Tiger, he’s the best player in the world, he has a win ratio of 50-50, so I would expect him to go out there and have a mega-week.”

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Tiger Woods is feeling the tension ahead of his return to golf after four months in self-imposed exile.

Woods, giving his first interview since the November car crash outside his home which was the trigger for a slew of revelations about his private life, is set to return to action at the Masters in Augusta on April 8.

The 14-time major winner is expected to be protected from too much media intrusion at Augusta, but it is the reception from the fans that is giving the American most cause for concern.

Asked what he expected from the crowd, Woods told ESPN: “I don’t know. I don’t know. I’m a little nervous about that to be honest with you.

“It would be nice to hear a couple claps here and there. But also hope they clap for birdies, too.

“I’m excited to get back and play. I’m excited to get to see the guys again. I really miss a lot of my friends out there. I miss competing.”

Woods announced he was taking an “indefinite break” from golf in December, and two months later confessed to a number of extra-marital affairs in a lengthy statement.

Woods admitted his life had become a “lie” prior to entering rehabilitation.

He said: “I was living a life of a lie, I really was. And I was doing a lot of things, like I said, that hurt a lot of people.

“Stripping away denial and rationalisation, you start coming to the truth of who you really are and that can be very ugly.”

The golfer talked to two sport channels on Sunday at Isleworth, the golf club near his home in Windermere, Florida, giving five-minute, one-on-one interviews to both ESPN and the Golf Channel.

Woods was hesitant when it came to discussing his affairs, saying: “Well, just one is, is enough. And obviously that wasn’t the case, and I’ve made my mistakes.

“I’ve hurt so many people, and so many people I have to make an amends to, and that’s living a life of amends.

“I owe a lot of people an apology. I hurt a lot of people. Not just my wife. My friends, my colleagues, the public, kids who looked up to me.

“There were a lot of people that thought I was a different person and my actions were not according to that. That’s why I had to apologise. I was so sorry for what I had done.”

The 34-year-old admitted he had a hard time coming to terms with his indiscretions while in rehab.

“I saw a person that I never thought I would ever become,” he said.

“It was tough, it was really tough to look at yourself in a light that you never want to look at yourself, that’s pretty brutal.

“A lot has transpired in my life. A lot of ugly things have happened. I’ve done some pretty bad things in my life.

“But now, after treatment, going for in-patient treatment for 45 days and more out-patient treatment, I’m getting back to my old roots.”

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US President Barack Obama is sure Tiger Woods will still be a “terrific golfer” when he returns to competition, but acknowledged that he had “betrayed his family”.

In an interview with Fox News, Obama was asked his thoughts on Woods’s decision to return to golf at next month’s Masters, the first Major of the season.

Woods has not played in a tournament since November last year after disappearing from public view following tabloid revelations about his marital infidelities.

“I think that Tiger has acknowledged that he betrayed his family; that is a personal issue that he has got to work out,” said Obama, himself a keen golfer.

“I hope they’ve worked it out and I am sure he is still going to be a terrific golfer.”

At the US Tour event in Tampa, Kenny Perry, who lost in a play-off at last year’s Masters, agreed that Woods would still be a great player and urged the public to forgive him.

“We have all made mistakes. It’s like any sickness, like alcohol, drugs, you name it; there’s so many things out there that people get hung up into and it grabs you and just can’t get away from it for whatever reason,” said Perry.

“I hope we are that country that will forgive, and give him a second shot. Everybody deserves a second chance.”

Asked how he would react if he bumped into Woods on the practice range at Augusta, Perry said: “I’m going to go give him a hug. I’m going up there and get right in his face and tell him if I can do anything for him, let me know.

“I’m here to help you.”

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