Johnson hopes Tiger can burn bright

– World No 1 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 No 1 Woods used the Stinger shot to great advantage during his heyday more than a

Shanghai

decade ago.

But the 14-times 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 yesterday: “Obviously he’s still 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.”

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 – and if there’s anyone you can’t count out – it’s him,” said the Swede, who won The Open last year. –