PGA chief still in dark on Tiger Woods return date

US PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem has said he does not know when Tiger Woods will return to golf, despite hinting otherwise. On Sunday Finchem said he expected Woods to announce his comeback date "pretty soon" but he revealed nothing new in a news conference on Monday. "Tiger's indicated to us he will give us notice because we know we've got some preparation to do," said Finchem. "But I don't have a specific date when he's going to come back." The world number one is taking an extended break from the game after admitting cheating on his wife, Elin. But speculation has been mounting that Woods, who has been pictured practising, could return to action at the Tavistock Cup next Monday, the Arnold Palmer Invitational later the same week or The Masters starting on 8 April. And on Sunday, a day before the news conference, Finchem said: "I'm as excited as everybody else to see him back I hope this spring, but my sense is we'll know pretty soon." But while golf fans and media were hoping for more information on the 14-time major winner, the conference was just a routine procedure announcing a new tournament sponsorship deal. Woods is yet to give any indication when he will return to competitive golf and in an apology for his conduct which was televised worldwide last month, Woods said he did not know how long he would be away from the sport. Woods has been seen working with his coach Hank Haney, further fuelling expectations of a return before or for the Masters. "If he wasn't going to play for six months, why would Hank be there?" said Australian pro Robert Allenby, a Florida neighbour of Woods. "I look at that as maybe he's getting ready." The Bay Hill tournament is run by Woods' management company, International Management Group, but tournament director Scott Wellington said he has not heard from the player's agent, Mark Steinberg. "At this point, we still don't know," he said. "Tiger has until next Friday to commit." Woods has won at Bay Hill six times, from 2000 to 2003 and again in 2008 and 2009, and it is the only PGA Tour event he has never missed since turning professional. Meanwhile, Augusta National, the home of the Masters, the first major of the year, is famed for its watertight security, which means it would be next to impossible for the paparazzi to gain access to the course. Speculation has also centred on the Tavistock Cup, a made-for-TV exhibition team event between PGA talent from rival Florida clubs Isleworth and Lake Nona. Golfer Mark O'Meara, a friend and neighbour of Woods, said last week that he "wouldn't be surprised" to see Woods play the 22-23 March competition.