Fit-again Tiger Woods good for golf, says Dustin Johnson

SHANGHAI: World number one Dustin Johnson hopes to see fellow American Tiger Woods get back to his brilliant best, saying a fit-again Woods would be good for golf.

The 41-year- old Woods gave a tantalising glimpse of a possible long-awaited return from injury on Monday when he posted on Twitter a video of himself hitting a “Stinger” shot with a long iron.

Former number one Woods used the Stinger shot to great advantage during his heyday more than a decade ago.

But the 14-time major champion has long been plagued by back trouble and has only recently been approved to resume full golf activities after yet more surgery.

Woods has not won a major since the 2008 US Open, but Johnson said Tuesday: “Obviously he’s still very, very popular: without Tiger the game wouldn’t be where it is today.”

Speaking in Shanghai ahead of the WGC- HSBC Champions, Johnson added: “I’d like to see him come back and playing really well, it’s good for us, it’s good for everybody, it’s good for the game.

“He draws a lot of fans, a lot of people watch him and it’s good for us that more people watch us play the game,” said Johnson, 33, whose raw talent has seen comparisons between him and Woods.

Henrik Stenson, another leading contender this week in Shanghai, also refused to write the ailing Woods off but said the American must be patient. “It’s a long journey to make a comeback but if anyone can do it – and if there’s anyone you can’t count out – it would be him,” said the Swede. — AFP