Woods false alarm

A day that began with a report saying Tiger Woods looked set for a comeback in just two weeks' time has ended with another pointing to him waiting for next month's Masters.

First the New York Post quoted 'two sources in the golf community' as hinting heavily that the world No.1 would end his indefinite break from tournament golf at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando on March 25-28.

It claimed Woods had been speaking with former presidential advisor Ari Fleischer to prepare the ground for his return.

But on Friday morning FOXSports.com said it understood Woods has decided to make Augusta on April 8-11 his first appearance since the sex scandal that erupted at the end of November.

Woods has spent the past week practising at his home course Isleworth and many saw that as a sign he was gearing up first for the Tavistock Cup - a club match against Lake Nona - on March 22-23 before the short trip to Bay Hill later the same week.

Further reports suggested that 'two people with knowledge of his plans' were saying that The Masters will be the earliest Woods returns to action.

Fleischer, meanwhile, has declined to confirm or deny that he had been brought on board to help with Woods' comeback.