Return of the King

He's back.

After rehabbing his injured left knee for almost eight months, Tiger Woods will return to the PGA Tour at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship next week in Arizona. Woods has not played competitively since he had reconstructive surgery on ligaments in his knee the day after his now legendary playoff win over Rocco Mediate at the 2008 U.S. Open last June.

"Elin and our new son Charlie are doing great. I've enjoyed my time at home with the family and appreciate everyone's support and kind wishes," Woods said on his Web site. "I'm now ready to play again."

Woods's return is welcome news for fans and especially the PGA Tour, which has seen ticket sales and TV ratings plummet in Woods's absence. Attendance at the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines in February was down 30 percent without Woods, according to Tom Wilson, the tournament director.

Woods's impact on TV ratings has been even more dramatic.

"There's no question that there's a 'Tiger Effect,'" CBS Sports President Sean McManus said. "Ratings are at least 50 percent higher when he's on the leaderboard on a weekend. That's just a fact."

Many of Woods's fellow Tour pros will welcome his return as well. While young stars like Anthony Kim and Camilo Villegas (stupid name) have emerged while Woods was recovering from surgery, Davis Love III compared golf without Woods to hockey in the 1980s without Wayne Gretzky and basketball in the 1990s without Michael Jordan.

Fans can't wait to see how he'll perform. Woods has made triumphant returns after other injuries, including winning the Buick Invitational in February 2003 after knee surgery two months earlier. Even his 2008 U.S. Open win came after an eight-week break to recuperate from another knee surgery, this one immediately after the Masters. However, these eight months have been the longest layoff — by far — of Woods's career.

My prediction is that Woods will come back as strong as ever.  He may not win in his first event back but he will still be a force to be reckoned with.

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