Eight months, one week, two days. For a game that has been in existence for 900 years — give or take the odd decade when certain Kings, who may or may not have been plagued by the shanks, chose to ban the sport — that should not constitute a significant amount of time.

So why has the period stretching back to last June already been labelled “a golfing dark age” and why will next Wednesday be greeted with a level of fervour which some religious types will feel should be reserved for the Second Coming? Two words — “Tiger Woods“. And two more — “He's back“. When the four are put together, golf is blessed with one of the more exciting moments in its conservative history.

Still, there are always a few hapless souls who are caused misery by the majority's joy and yesterday it was difficult to know to whom to extend the most pity — the agents manning the ticket

hotline for next week's Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson. Or Brendan Jones. While the former must think their work is cut out in trying to satisfy the demand of all those wishing to witness the comeback of the world No 1 from his knee reconstruction, then that will be nothing to the task-sheet facing the unheralded Australian professional.

As Jones prepares for his first round match at Dove Mountain, he would be advised not to check what happened the last time Woods donned competitive spikes.

It is already written deep into the game's folklore that Rocco Mediate happened to produce the best golf of his, and for that matter most other lifetimes in the US Open, but was still slain in an 18-hole play-off. Those glorious memories of Torrey Pines, of course, only add to the anticipation of the Tiger return and believe it, everyone but everyone within the sport is counting down the hours.

That includes his rivals, which on first listening may sound surprising - what with Woods having reduced them to also-ran status on so many occasions since he turned pro in 1996 — but really should not when one considers all that he has brought to his profession. Perhaps, Phil Mickelson, the player purported to be Woods' biggest rival (score in majors: 14-3) summed it up best.

“We need him back, we want him back,“ he said. “He drives television ratings, the sponsors need him in their events and the fans turn out to see him.”

Yet is it possible for even someone of Woods' ability to win again at the first time of asking and so put behind him eight months of pain, frustration and recuperation? Not only all of that, but just 10 days ago his wife, Elin, gave birth to their second child, Charley.

Would-be conqueror Ernie Els acknowledged yesterday. "I've known Tiger for a long time, he's amazed us with everything he has done and he will probably go on doing the same," said the South African.

Harrington concurred, just as they all would concur. "I think he'll come back better," said the world number 3. "He'll come back with a greater enthusiasm and love for the game because he's missed it. When something is taken away from you, you want it even more. It's hard to believe that I'm saying Tiger Woods might want to win a tournament more than he did before.”

Wishful thinking or reality? Or maybe both? Woods has made a habit of turning one into the other. Not too long now to see whether he can accomplish the unthinkable again.