Woods will not be fully fit until 2010

TIGER WOODS has predicted it will be another 18 months before he is fully recovered from knee surgery. Woods (32) is recovering from anterior cruciate ligament surgery and has not played since his dramatic US Open victory at Torrey Pines in June.

And the world number one predicts he will not be able to swing a golf club until January at the earliest. "Over the next 18 months (the knee) will gain 100 per cent strength, so it's a two-year process," said Woods.

"The healing process for an ACL is six months. No matter what I try to do, I can't speed up that process. That puts me into January. Unfortunately, I can't rotate, I can't practice on that leg until then.

"I believe the stat is after six months, the ACL is 85 per cent in strength."

Woods underwent his fourth operation on his left knee two days after beating Rocco Mediate at Torrey Pines to secure his 14th major title.

Woods, who won nine victories in 12 official events this year, said he was at the peak of his powers before surgery and was determined to compete at the highest level once he returned to health in 2009.

"I think I played better in this stretch that I have at any time in my career," said Woods, whose 65 career PGA Tour victories sees him trail only Jack Nicklaus (73) and Sam Snead (82).

"I may have won more major championships, but I certainly have never been in contention in as many events, or won as many events in a row. I had a pretty good run."

In July, Dr Thomas Rosenberg, one of the two surgeons who operated on Woods, said it was "highly unlikely" Woods's career would suffer any long-term effects.

Meanwhile Phil Mickelson and other world stars who have talked of possibly joining the European Tour may be forced into a rethink after it was decided last night to increase the minimum number of events required for membership from 11 to 12 - and to stipulate that at least two of them must be played in continental Europe.

The circuit launches its new-look "Race for Dubai" in just over a month, culminating in the world's richest event in the emirate next November.

That tournament, the Dubai World Championship, is open only to the leading 60 players on the Order of Merit and Mickelson is among a number of US Tour-based players who have been considering taking up membership.

But after the meeting of the players' committee in St Andrews last night, Tour chief executive George O'Grady said: "It was a very positive discussion by the committee, who reviewed all aspects of the tour and took into account the current economic situation.

"They felt this was a correct way to recognise the support of the founding body of the European Tour in Europe. It is a stepping stone and they will continue to review the situation on an annual basis."

Committee chairman Thomas Bjorn added: "Over the years the seasons have been extended so much and we also think that with a 13-month season coming up, it is reasonable to put the number up by one. It is not a big ask to play 12 events, especially when a lot of those guys in question (who may want to join the European Tour) play four majors and three World Golf Championship events anyway. It was never a big ask, it was just time to change."

The stipulation of two events in Europe comes after a season when many of the tournaments there suffered from weakened fields.

Exhausted double 2008 major champion Pádraig Harrington said yesterday he would be prepared to crawl to this week's Dunhill Links Championship as he aims to win Europe's order of merit for a second time.

Harrington is aiming to extend his lead at the top of the European money list after Lee Westwood closed the gap with a runner-up place at last week's British Masters. "I would never not be here. I'd crawl over to this tournament," Harrington told a news conference, adding that blood tests revealed he has been badly run down. "I was low in antioxidants, my white blood cells were too active, basically showing that I'm fatigued."

"I would be here (St Andrews) full stop but I think that's (order of merit) the prime reason why I'm trying a little bit harder this week because I know this is a good chance for me," the 2006 order of merit winner said. "I've got two tournaments left, this and the Volvo Masters. I think I've got to play really well in one of them in order to win the order of merit."