Player backs Woods to make a return

Dubai - Tiger Woods has been laid low by a back injury and has been missing from action for close to six months.

Nine-time Major champion and one of the legends of golf Gary Player was unsure if Tiger Woods, another legend, could make a comeback from injury but backed the American to make a return to the sport he once ruled.
Player, whose professional career stretched to 63 years during which he had 165 wins, also said that the game of golf will be poorer without Woods. The South African, nicknamed 'The Black Knight,' also weighed in on the current crop of young golfers, especially the 'Big Three' of World No.1 Jordan Spieth, No.2 Rory McIlroy and No.3 Jason Day.
"It's fascinating, been fascinating for me, seeing all the different players throughout the 63 years. And seeing a man like Tiger Woods, who was without a question of a doubt, without a question of a doubt, the most talented man that ever held a golf club, and he's at the crossroads," Player said on the sidelines of the Dubai Desert Classic. "We are all hoping that he will do well, because he is vitally important for golf.  He gave golf a boost as much as I've ever seen in my life.  So it's important that he comes back.  But what a challenge he's got, what a challenge he's got on his hands.  We are all hoping he will do it," he added.
Woods has been laid low by a back injury and has been missing from action for close to six months. His last appearance was at the Wyndham Championship in August. Since then, the 40-year-old has undergone two surgeries to his troublesome back. Player is now 80 years old but is still fit as ever and while such injuries could end many a sportsmen's careers, he felt that Woods could come on the other side of it. "Fifty percent of me says yes, because he was the most talented man that ever lived, and 50 percent of me says, I have my doubts, because he had the yips.  When you see this phenomenal golfer hitting chip shots five feet, five feet and then hitting the next chip over the green, my goodness, and not hitting fairways, it's astounding, isn't it," he said.