Tiger's Rehab May Allow Return To Game By Memorial Tournament

Culver City, CA (AHN) -- Despite arthroscopic surgery in April, Tiger is aiming to return to the PGA Tour for the Memorial tournament, starting on May 29. While Woods remains optimistic, he is not putting pressure on himself to make a swift return.

"The rehab is going well," Woods told the BBC. "I've been training hard. I'm getting sick and tired of riding the bike, though. I'm chipping and putting. I'm not doing anything beyond that. Hopefully I'll start hitting balls, start progressing soon and work my way up the bag."

Due to the surgery, Woods has been unable to defend his title at Wachovia this year. He also missed the Player Championships for the first time since joining the pro tour in 1996.

Woods firmly expects to be back on the tour for the U.S. Open. He has begun light practices again, involving chipping and putting.

Woods has had some problem with his knee before, and has - in recent years - been working on a few subtle charges to his swing, intentionally trying to remove strain from his left knee. In 1994, his knee was cut open to remove a benign tumor. This will be his third arthroscopic surgery on his knee.

"After the first surgery, I said I probably wouldn't have another one. Then after the second one, I wouldn't have another one," Woods told ESPN. "And now here I am having three. It is what it is. It's the nature of playing sports."