Tiger's hitting longer irons and driver

- but when is he going to return?


FROM THE GOLFWEEK WEBSITE:
Tiger Woods can’t be too far from his much-anticipated ’09 debut. He’s got driver in his hands.
Woods, whose dramatic 91-hole U.S. Open victory was followed by season-ending knee surgery last June, has progressed to hitting long irons and driver, he said Monday on his Web site, TigerWoods.com.
“As I had hoped, after January 1, I started hitting longer irons and my driver,” Woods said. “I’m not swinging as hard as I can, but I’m working towards that goal.”
Woods, 33, had reconstructive ACL surgery on his left knee. He has played some holes at his home course near Orlando, Isleworth Country Club, with swing coach Hank Haney.
Woods still has no timetable for his return.“So far my knee has held up well, but I don’t know when I’ll be able to return to competition,” Woods said.
Most US Tour watchers peg Woods’ return to one of the events leading up to the Masters in early April. The Arnold Palmer Invitational, played two weeks before the Masters and near Woods’ home in Orlando, is a popular prediction.
Woods’ wife, Elin, is expecting the couple’s second child next month.