Williams: Tiger ready to roar

Tiger Woods is closing in on a return to the PGA Tour, according to his caddie Steve Williams.

Woods has been out of competitive action since winning the US Open in June last year after having reconstructive surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee the following week.

But the world number one has been progressing quicker than expected in his rehabilitation and Williams expects the 33-year-old, who had stress fractures in the same leg, to return imminently.

“He is ready to go anytime in the next few weeks,” he told Television New Zealand. “He is about 90% but he won’t play unless he is 100%.

“He has had to modify his swing a little bit to accommodate his knee but it is a matter of getting back into the groove.”

Woods, who earlier this month celebrated the birth of his second child with wife Elin, has won 14 Major golf championships and needs five more to set a new record for the most Major wins.

And Williams believes that even if Woods is a little rusty upon his return the American will have the mental strength to remain the world’s leading player.

“I’ve said it before, the best quote I have heard about him is that ’they haven’t operated on his head and you haven’t operated on his heart’, which are his two best components,” he added.

“Maybe his game is not as good but if he is mentally stronger – we all know that he is the mentally toughest player to play the game so that in itself is a big factor.”