Golf-Tiger's comeback the game's biggest talking point

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

LOS ANGELES, Dec 22 (Reuters) - While professional golf prepares to confront a bleak economic landscape in 2009, the biggest talking point in the game relates to the timing and immediate impact of Tiger Woods's comeback from injury.

The American world number one has been sidelined since his astonishing U.S. Open victory in June when he defied stabbing knee pain and a double stress fracture of his left tibia to clinch his 14th major title.

Although Woods is ahead of schedule in his recovery from reconstructive knee surgery and began hitting full shots two weeks ago, he has no idea when he will return to competitive golf.

The U.S. Masters in April is his first priority for the 2009 season and ideally he would like to play in a couple of events before that in preparation.

The WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson in late February is a possibility for his much anticipated comeback, although the Mar. 12-15 WGC-CA Championship in Miami is more likely.

Woods accepts his return to the PGA Tour will depend on the pace of his healing and he has not yet been able to hit full shots with every club in his bag.

"I'm really not all that fired up about playing just because I can't play," the 32-year-old told reporters after his charity tournament, the Chevron World Challenge in Thousand Oaks, California, was won by Vijay Singh.

"I would be embarrassed to go out there and try to play with the guys now. I can't hit any of the shots that they're hitting because I haven't done it. I've got to do a lot of work here, and it'll be an arduous task."