Despite not hitting a golf ball in anger since his famous US Open victory in June, Tiger Woods believes that when he does return to professional golf, he will do so playing 'better than ever'.  His performance, while clearly injured, to defeat Rocco Mediate in the US Open will take some topping, but Woods is certain that this break from the game will work in his favour.

In terms of when this eagerly anticipated return happens - well, he's not too sure. It has already been confirmed that he will miss the remainder of 2008 after having reconstructive anterior cruciate ligament surgery on his knee. However, according to the man himself, the rehabilitation is going well and he wil 'hit a few balls in January' to see how that feels.

Woods admits that he couldn't put a date on a return though, claiming that if he attempted a golf shot now - it would be one of the 'worst shots you'd ever seen'. I guess, it is a case of waiting for everything to fall in to place. Woods has to be physically and mentally ready to return. Something I would place a lot of my golf betting money on is the fact that he won't come back into competitive action until he is 100% ready.

After claiming that he will be better than ever, he wouldn't want to come back and disappoint. There is bound to be large media interest surrounding the tournament which he returns in and Tiger Woods being Tiger Woods - he will want to put on a show. He can't afford to come back only to get injured again as this wouldn't do him any good at all.

Being patient will be difficult for Woods though as he admits that he is missing the game very much. He is not a fan of watching golf on the television and because he is 'addicted to playing golf', he can't wait to get back in the thick of things. This is something we already knew though. No-one goes through the pain he went through to win the US Open unless they are committed to being successful.

Of course, in Woods' absence, Padraig Harrington has been the success story of the major tournaments. The Irishman won the British Open at Royal Birkdale and the PGA Championship at Bloomfield Hills and Woods praised him by saying that he is a player with 'so much talent'.

Woods would rather be competing against Harrington than praising him from the sidelines though - we all know that. However, with 14 major tournament titles to his name, I remain convinced that he will significantly add to this total. We may all have to be patient, but Tiger Woods will be back and he will be as good as he was before - maybe even better. He is one of the greatest sportsmen that has ever lived and I imagine the golf odds will be backing him to win his first tournament back. That's how it works in the world of Tiger Woods.

Thomas Rooney - A sports writer who blogs about golf betting