Woods on comeback course, hires former White House press secretary as advisor

London, Mar. 12 (ANI): Tiger Woods has hired former US President George W Bush's press secretary Ari Fleischer as an adviser amid reports that he is eying next month's Masters to make his much-awaited comeback to golf.

Fleischer served as the communications chief during the first two years of Bush's presidency and has since set up a PR company specialising in "media crisis" situations, the Guardian reports.

On Thursday, two sources close to Woods revealed that the World's no. 1 golfer "intends to remain out of golf at least until the Masters. They added that Woods has finally settled on Augusta to reintroduce himself to the sporting world after a three-month hiatus that has seen him deserted by many of his corporate sponsors in the aftermath of the scandal around his personal life.

Earlier this week, Woods resumed working with his long-time coach Hank Haney and it is believed he and his advisers were toying with the idea of him playing in next week's Tavistock Cup, a made-for-television event.

That choice would buy Woods a protection from rowdy fans and from the celebrity gossip websites.

Even then Woods is likely to endure some uncomfortable questions about the circumstances and substance of his scripted "apology" before an audience of 30 friends during last month's Accenture world matchplay.

South African golfer Ernie Els described Woods' timing as "selfish".(ANI)