• US Masters

Palmer warns Tiger of tough return

Arnold Palmer believes Tiger Woods will not have an easy return to the golf course at Augusta © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Tiger shrewd to return at Masters - Montgomerie
  
• News: Perry ready to partner Woods
  
• Out of Bounds: It's about time Tiger emerged from the high grass
  
• News: Tiger to make Masters return
  
• News: Finchem confirms no date set for Tiger return
  
• News: Tiger in frame for Arnold Palmer return
  
• Profile: Tiger Woods

Four-time Masters champion Arnold Palmer has warned Tiger Woods he may not have things all his way when he makes his return at Augusta next month.

Woods announced on Tuesday that he would make his much-anticipated return to the golf course at the Masters on April 5, and Palmer believes the world No. 1 will be in for a tough time.

"For Tiger it is going to be tough, it is going to be something that will take him a little time to get used to," Palmer told the Golf Channel. "I am sure that he will anticipate all those things before he gets there and I think, as well as he can, he will understand the things that might happen."

It was originally thought that Woods would make his return to competitive golf at Palmer's PGA Tour invitational event at Bay Hill next week, but although Palmer admitted he was disappointed the 14-time Major winner would not be making an appearance, he insisted he understood.

"I spoke to him a couple of times, I spoke to him last night and then again this morning just to make sure that everything was the way I got it," he said. "He expressed his regrets for not being able to play and said that he was sorry but that he really didn't feel his game was up to speed to start playing this early.

"It was a fairly short conversation and of course we are all disappointed that Tiger isn't going to be here to play but certainly under the conditions and the things that have happened we understand."

Players past and present have been quick to comment on the imminent return of the world No. 1. "It's great to see him coming back again," Darren Clarke said. "It's absolutely brilliant. We all want him back because he's the best player on the planet."

Padraig Harrington, meanwhile, believes Woods' decision not to play before the Masters signalled a commitment to his family. He said: "It's obviously great for golf that he's back. It shows the commitment he has to his family. If he came back earlier, that would give him a better chance at Augusta. He would have been putting golf first. Putting his family first by not warming up for Augusta, it's a good statement."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.