Tiger Woods may not play golf again until the US Masters at Augusta in April next year, it was revealed today.

But when the world No1 does make his comeback from extensive knee surgery, the two men closest to him believe he could play better than ever. Former Open champion Mark O'Meara, Woods's most trusted friend, said: "I know his doctors and they're the best in the world. In six months, he'll be better than new. You don't win 14 majors without being incredibly mentally tough.

"Tiger doesn't want to jeopardise his career. He'll heal and probably come back stronger."

Hank Haney, Woods's swing coach, said: "His knee hasn't been right for a long time and he's won, what, 10 of his last 13 tournaments, with two seconds and a fifth.

"The guy has so much heart. After they finally get this fixed, how can anybody think he won't play better than he ever has?"

Medical opinion is divided about that. Some experts sayWoods's decision to defy doctor's orders by playing at Torrey Pines only nine weeks after knee surgery may have jeopardised his career.

But his agent with the IMG management company, Mark Steinberg, said: "I don't think there will be any debate that he rushes back from his next surgery. He won't need to. Augusta is in April."