Returning Woods likely to amaze, says Els

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

PACIFIC PALISADES, California (Reuters) - World number one Tiger Woods will be as good as ever when he returns to competition from reconstructive knee surgery next week, according to long-time rival Ernie Els.

American Woods, sidelined since his U.S. Open victory eight months ago, will make his PGA Tour comeback at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Marana, Arizona.

"I''ve known Tiger for a long time, he''s amazed us with everything he has done and he will probably do the same," South African Els told Reuters at Riviera Country Club on Thursday.

"I mean he won the U.S. Open on one leg. I''m not that surprised he''s coming back next week. He has taken longer than most guys and I think he''s going to be fine."

Three-times major winner Els had similar surgery for a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament midway through 2005 after twisting his left knee on a family sailing holiday.

"I came back before the end of that year but the knee was still swollen," the world number 13 said.

"Even after that, it was another six months for the knee to really start feeling where it was almost back to normal. It''s been a bit of a climb for me since then."

The big difference with Woods, Els said, was the amount of recovery time the American had taken.

"He hurt his knee in June, I hurt my knee in July," the South African added after carding a level-par 71 in the Northern Trust Open first round. "I came back in December, so I took five months off and he''s taken eight months off.

"He''s ready to go. He''s been hitting balls and he''s champing at the bit to get out.

ONLY NORMAL

"My take is that he will feel it. It''s only normal. I don''t care how good your rehab was, you''re going to feel it every now and again in your swing, especially in cold weather.

"But he''s obviously ready to play and he loves match play. I think it''s a good tournament for him to come back. He''s done well there and he''s comfortable."

Woods, a winner of 14 major titles, is defending champion at the Match Play Championship where he also triumphed in 2003 and 2004.

For Els, the determining factor next week will be Woods''s form at Dove Mountain''s Ritz-Carlton Golf Club.  Continued...