Tiger comeback provides 2009 PGA golf story line

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The anticipated return of Tiger Woods should provide great story lines for the 2009 season and help offset the effects of a troubled economy on professional golf, U.S. PGA Tour chief Tim Finchem said on Wednesday.

Woods has been sidelined since having knee surgery after his U.S. Open playoff triumph in June and Finchem has been keeping tabs on the man rated the most powerful person in the sports business world by BusinessWeek magazine.

"I talk to him every once in a while. I go down to see him, check in with him, encourage him to get the knee better," Finchem said with a mock, pleading tone at the Reuters Media Summit in New York.

"To have him out is a big hole."

Operating without Woods, one of the world's most recognizable figures, has hurt TV ratings, but Finchem said the circumstances should enrich the drama surrounding the upcoming season.

Finchem said curiosity about Woods's condition and form will be high once he returns and faces a group of young players who have emerged in his absence.

"When Tiger's in a tournament, he dominates the coverage," the tour commissioner said about the world No. 1.

"It's tough for a Camilo Villegas, Anthony Kim, Hunter Mahan to get known and develop some star quality of their own in a Tiger world."

Villegas, 26, of Colombia finished 2008 on a high note by winning the last two events of the season-ending FedEx Cup Series, the BMW Championship and The Tour Championship.

Kim, a 23-year-old Korean-American, won twice on the U.S. Tour and along with Mahan, 26, helped the U.S. Ryder Cup team triumph against Europe in September.

"What we saw this past season was that some of those guys came on and they're poised now to develop into our future stars. So that's a good thing," Finchem said.

"As we look to '09 we've got some new stars, some young players under 30 who are winning tournaments and showing that they may have the capability to stand up to Tiger.

"At the same time, you have all the speculation building about whether Tiger can play."

Finchem did not know when Woods would return, but guessed the 14-time major winner might be back by spring.

"He hasn't swung a golf club yet," he said.

"I spoke to him last week. His rehab is coming along right on schedule, but until he starts actually swinging the club and experiences the reaction his body will have to that, he can't begin the process of setting a time frame."

Finchem said suspense would build.

"How's the knee? Can he put pressure on it? Can he continue to turn with the same velocity that he used to? What kind of impact is that going to have on his long-term situation?" Finchem asked about Woods's vaunted swing speed and power.

"Is he still going to be able to win? Will he still have the stamina over the course of a season that he has had?

"All that speculation will be added to speculation about this kid Anthony Kim and players like Camilo. Are they ready to go head-to-head with him?"

(Reporting by Larry Fine, editing by Gerald E. McCormick)