Woods can expect `tough` return at Augusta, says Palmer

Miami: Four-times US Masters winner Arnold Palmer said Tiger Woods would be in for a tough time on his return to golf at Augusta next month.

Woods, plagued by revelations about his marital infidelity, is likely to face intense media scrutiny and the response of spectators at one of the most conservative venues in US golf is uncertain."For Tiger it is going to be tough, it is going to be something that will take him a little time to get used to," Palmer told the Golf Channel when asked about what awaits Woods at the April 8-11 tournament. "I am sure that he will anticipate all those things before he gets there and I think, as well as he can, he will understand the things that might happen," he said. Palmer hosts his PGA Tour invitational event next week at his Bay Hill course and there had been rumours Woods might use that occasion to ease himself back in to competitive golf. But Palmer said he had spoken twice to Woods shortly before the announcement and while he was disappointed not to have the world number one in his field he understood the motives. "I spoke to him a couple of times, I spoke to him last night and then again this morning just to make sure that everything was the way I got it.""He expressed his regrets for not being able to play and said that he was sorry but that he really didn`t feel his game was up to speed to start playing this early." "It was a fairly short conversation and of course we are all disappointed that Tiger isn`t going to be here to play but certainly under the conditions and the things that have happened we understand," he added. Bureau Report