Woods backed to make winning return

Tiger Woods may have less than a month to get ready for the Masters, but there are those who believe he is capable not just of playing well on his return, but winning.

Fellow American Rocco Mediate, the man beaten in a play-off when Woods won his 14th and last major at the 2008 US Open, said: "I don't have any worries about what he'll do when he comes back.

"If he wins the Masters it will not be a surprise to me. Period.

"If anyone can do it. He can do it. If anyone can pull this off, he'll pull it off.

"I know he hasn't been around for a while and I know he's been through hell, but physically he's OK and mentally he's got to deal with it."

The world number one's former Ryder Cup partner Jim Furyk added: "You never bet against him."

He continued: "Tiger seems to be able to take a bunch of time off and pop right up there and be the same old guy.

"Not many players, no-one that I know of, are actually capable of that. But he does it well."