Sergio - Tiger back soon

Garcia (L) with Tiger Woods

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Sergio Garcia expects world number one Tiger Woods to make a quicker-than-expected return to competitive golf.

Woods is currently taking an "indefinite break" from the game following the raft of lurid revelations that broke about his private life.

The American has not been seen in public since the car crash on November 27 last year that preceded the media storm created by his extra-marital affairs and there has been no word on when he resume playing.

While some have predicted he will be back in action in time for The Masters in April, other observers have claimed he could stay away from the game for a year or longer.

However, Garcia believes Woods will not be away for too much longer, insisting the world number one will be able to best refocus himself on the golf course.

"The best thing for Tiger at the moment is to get on the course and do what he knows best," said the Spaniard ahead of this week's Abu Dhabi Championship.

"Only he knows when he is going to come back. I have got the feeling that it's going to be earlier that what everybody thinks.

"I think he (Woods) is very strong mentally and it's not like the break he had for injury a couple of years back when he had the knee problem. If you can't walk you can't swing. It's different."

Major ambition

Garcia makes a comeback of his own this week in Abu Dhabi after seven weeks on the sidelines with a wrist injury.

While the absence of Woods would theoretically make it easier for the Spaniard to end his continuing wait for a first major crown, he insists he would rather break his duck with the world's best player in the field.

"There's nothing better than playing against the best," Garcia continued. "But there is always an upside and a downside.

"The downside when he is playing is that you know your chances of winning are a little lower.

"The upside is that when you know you are playing against him and you manage to beat him, it's always that much sweeter to have beaten the best.

"So for the game, it is not good that Tiger is out. We hope he gets back as soon as possible."