Woods practicing, remains hopeful to return before Masters

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Steve Williams will be on Tiger Woods' bag, but just when he resumes his employment for the world's No. 1 golfer remains a question with no answer.

Williams' future has nothing to do with his recent inflammatory comments about Phil Mickelson -- Woods quickly put that to rest during a Wednesday news conference -- but all centers around when Woods' surgically repaired left knee will allow him to compete at the level he expects.

While admitting that he is somewhat ahead of schedule, having already hit some full shots in recent weeks, Woods is hopeful he can play at least one or two tournaments before the Masters -- but is nowhere near certain.

"As far as intention, yes, that's always been the intent," said Woods at Sherwood Country Club, where he will be unable to defend his title at the Chevron World Challenge. "As far as reality, that's two different things. I don't know. ... the most frustrating thing is the uncertainty.

"How is the leg going to respond to more hours or practicing, more playing, more holes to play, playing at home? How is it going to recover from day to day to day? All this is unknown. Everyone heals at different rates. I couldn't tell you and my surgeon couldn't tell you. Trainers can't tell you.

"It is frustrating from that standpoint because I want to look forward to something."

Since having the ACL repaired in his left knee a week after his U.S. Open playoff victory over Rocco Mediate at Torrey Pines, Woods has maintained in various interviews that he would not hit full shots until January, or when his doctors said it was OK to do so.

But he admitted that he began to do so in "the last couple of weeks," although he was none too impressed with the results.

"I haven't really progressed too far into the bag," he said. "That ball is not going very far, so I kind of know how you guys feel. ... You know that flag out there 100 yards. ... boy, that's a long way."

Woods was not sporting the same sense of humor when he became aware of Williams' remarks last week in New Zealand which disparaged Mickelson -- who in turn issued a statement denouncing Williams' comments. The timing could not have been worse, on the eve of Woods' annual fundraising tournament for his foundation in Southern California.

And given Woods' distaste for controversy, there was some speculation that Williams -- who has caddied for Woods since 1999 and been on the bag for 13 of his 14 major championships -- could be looking for work.

"He'll be on the bag -- just don't know what's going to be in the bag," said Woods, suggesting in jest that he might weigh it down as punishment.

"What ended up happening is I communicated with Phil, and we have discussed it," Woods said. "I talked to Stevie about it, and he feels bad, what happened. It's something that none of us really wanted to have happen, but it's over and done with and we put it to bed."

Woods was asked about his tournament (he's won it four times), Padraig Harrington winning PGA Tour player of the year (Woods said he voted for the Irishman), the days right after surgery ("it's hard to describe to you the pain"), his rehab (much of it has involved swimming), up-and-coming players such as Anthony Kim and Camilo Villegas, and how the state of the economy will affect the game.

But the majority of questions concerned his knee and his comeback, and Woods admitted following doctor's orders not to turn on his knee -- as is necessary in a full golf swing -- has tested his patience.

"As an athlete you're always used to pushing it, used to getting out there if you're a little bit injured, a little bit hurt," he said. "It is what is, you go out there and compete and you just go through it.

"This is different. When you're dealing with an injury and a surgery like this, this is a lot more extensive. In order to have that not repeat again you're going to have to listen to the doctors. I certainly have done that and will continue to do that."

This is by far the longest stretch Woods has ever gone without hitting a full golf shot, a fact that has led to speculation about how good he will be when he returns. Woods said his knee will be more sound, and he's stronger in his legs than ever.

"I can't believe he's not able to play right now," said PGA Tour pro Mark Calcevecchia, who had a cartilage procedure performed on his knee in October. "I find that hard to believe, given the shape he is in, as strong as his legs are. But that's his decision. I know he doesn't want to come back until he's 100 percent. I know he's got a lot of other things going on. I can't believe he doesn't get bored stiff and doesn't want to go out and play golf. I'm sure he's more than capable."

"I know he's hit some shots at home," said Woods' friend Mark O'Meara, referring to their home course at Isleworth in Orlando. "I saw him on the range last Wednesday. He was hitting some 8-irons or something. But I think [the layoff] has been good for Tiger. It is hard to pull the reins back. When you're a great champion and a pusher and a motivator like he is, it's hard to take somebody's advice to stay away from it for quite a while."

Woods said he has no fear in coming back from the injury -- "It's a little different than Tom Brady coming back and 350-pound guys are falling at his feet," he said -- but admitted there is some hesitancy to cut loose.

"As I've progressed through my shorter clubs, hitting fuller shots, you remember what it was like when you hit a full shot, and for me the last time I really hit a full shot was at the Open," Woods said. "It didn't feel very good. And it's something that everyone has to overcome and has to go through.

"I remember ski racers [saying] when they come back from an ACL or any kind of leg injury that they never put the pedal all the way down until they had their first crash in practice and walked away from it. Then they know it's OK. That's basically how I am with full shots. You have to hit one club at a time and hit it full and feel, OK, I felt nothing there, nice, because the last time I did it back in June, as I said, it didn't feel very good."

The last time he did it, of course, Woods hit an approach to the par-4 seventh hole at Torrey Pines. That was the first hole of sudden death after Woods and Mediate shot 71 in the 18-hole playoff. That swing set up the winning par.

It wasn't until two days later that we learned that not only was Woods playing on a bad knee, without a tournament under his belt since the Masters, but that he had barely practiced due to two fractures in his leg.

Those fractures are healed, and the knee is getting stronger.

As he gets closer to his return, Woods was asked if he ever contemplates how he pulled off that victory, his 14th major title.

"I'm still trying to figure that out," he said.

Bob Harig covers golf for ESPN.com. He can be reached at BobHarig@gmail.com.