Harmon: Tiger must roar on return

Butch Harmon is hoping Tiger Woods comes back from knee surgery stronger than ever but expects the world number one to have a tougher time on his hands as the standard in world golf continues to improve.

Woods has been out of action since winning the US Open at Torrey Pines back in June, when he played through severe knee pain to claim the 14th major title of his career before undergoing an operation that has kept him out for the last six months.

His former swing coach is looking forward to the 32-year-old's return, saying: "I think we are all very anxious to see. This is the fourth time he's had surgery on the same knee."

He added: "If you listen to orthopaedic doctors, some will say the knee's going to be stronger, others will tell you that you have to wait and see.

"We're all very optimistic that Tiger's going to come back and be as good - or even better - than he was before. I think the game has missed him ever since the US Open, and that's not to say the other players haven't played well because they have.

"But there's something special about Tiger Woods and all of us involved in the game of golf want to see Tiger Woods back as strong or even stronger than he was before."