Nike golfer Tiger Woods may take two years to fully recover from the knee operation he underwent in June, a medical expert has claimed.
The world number one, who has not played golf since his US Open triumph at Torrey Pines this summer, is thought to be targeting a return at the Masters in April next year.
However, orthopaedic specialist Dr Lanny Johnson said this week that the severity of Woods'' injury means it could take a while for him to get back to his best.
"If you tear your cruciate ligament in American football, you can play within a year - and with full confidence within two years," he told the Daily Telegraph.
"Based on this, and the recovery period of other athletes, I am guessing that Tiger will need two years."
Meanwhile, Woods has confirmed the field for the Chevron World Challenge, the tournament he hosts at California''s Sherwood Country Club in December.
The 16-man field will include five of the current world top ten, with Vijay Singh, Padraig Harrington, Anthony Kim, Camilo Villegas and Jim Furyk all heading to Thousand Oaks for the event.
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