Tuesday 31 October 2017 12:08, UK
Butch Harmon is excited to see Tiger Woods make a return to competitive golf, although has warned against having too many expectations about his game.
Woods confirmed on Monday that he will make a comeback from injury at the Hero World Challenge, his first appearance since withdrawing mid-tournament from the Dubai Desert Classic in February.
The 14-time major champion underwent back surgery four times in just over two years and has dropped outside the world's top 1000, although has been showing signs of progress in a series of swing videos released on his social media accounts.
Harmon - who coached Woods for many years - has been following the former world No 1's progress and is intrigued to see how his game will fare back in tournament play.
"I'm both surprised and excited all at the same time," Harmon told Sky Sports News. "I think it is fantastic news and I don't think any of us really expected it.
"We have seen snippets on TV and on the internet of him making swings and practising, but for him to feel he's tournament ready means he must be a little further down than most of us realised.
"The game would be in a better place if he came back and was competitive. You have to realise, though, that Tiger is going to be 42 in December.
"I think that (getting back to golf's elite) is going to be a stretch for right now and I think we're going to have to wait to see how this event plays out and how many more events he decides to play.
"I know all of us in the golf industry would love that to happen and if that was a genuine possibility then that would be wonderful.
"The players at the top of the world are young and good and are in the game because of him, so they would love to see him come back. I hope that he does, but I'm not a optimistic as I wish I was."
Watch the Hero World Challenge from November 30-December live on Sky Sports Golf
