By Mark Lamport-Stokes
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Tiger Woods expects to make a full recovery from his lingering neck injury after an MRI scan on Wednesday revealed an inflamed facet joint, but he gave no indication as to when he would return.
The world number one, forced to withdraw from the final round of last week's Players Championship in Florida, said the inflamed joint would be cured through physical therapy.
"I now need to take care of this condition and will return to playing golf when I'm physically able," American Woods, 34, said on his official website (http://web.tigerwoods.com).
Woods gave no hint as to his possible return to the game but said the injury would be treated through soft-tissue massage, rest and anti-inflammatory medicine.
The 14-times major winner added that the prognosis was for a full recovery, although a return date to competitive golf was contingent on how quickly the condition healed.
"I want to practise, I want to play," he said earlier this week. "I want to compete but this (neck injury) is not allowing me to be able to do the things that I need to do in my golf swing to hit the proper shots.
He added he had been troubled by neck pain since returning from self-imposed exile at last month's U.S. Masters but added it was not related to the car crash outside his home last year that led to revelations about his marital infidelities.
Woods tied fourth on his return from a five-month absence at the Masters but has struggled since, missing the cut at the Quail Hollow Championship in North Carolina before pulling out at Sawgrass on Sunday.
The neck injury, and his split with long-time swing coach Hank Haney on Monday, are the latest setbacks for Woods who has struggled with his knees in recent seasons and is still facing intense scrutiny over his extra-marital affairs.
(Editing by Frank Pingue)
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