HERE is an idea of one man's greatness and a world's madness.

Tiger Woods hasn't played a tournament since June 16th, 2008. His knee has been cut open. He still has trouble walking. He's had another baby. His swing may have altered to accomondate his strengthening knee. He won't be sure of how well his knee has recovered till he pushes it in competition. 

But people will still expect him to win his first event, the Accenture Matchplay event, next week. 

It's weird. But perhaps we're just conditioned not to bet against Tiger. I mean, last time we saw him, he won the US Open on a bummed knee. And this is a repaired knee. So...

One person who will expect to win is Woods himself. He might play this tournament because Accenture is a sponsor, he might play here because he wants to get in a few weeks of competition before the Masters in April, but he won't play here unless he thinks he can win. This is part of his aura: That while he won't always win, he can always win. 

There is something fascinating about the injured athlete returning because he can't be exactly the same physically, yet he will want to dominate all the same. Woods' life has changed through the years, he has become older, a husband, a father, changed his swing, but his ability to produce brilliance has never changed. Wives want time, children are demanding, the body alters, but nothing has distracted him. He has mastered every circumstance because exceptional players do that, they see everything as a challenge and step up. 

Twice, Woods has had minor knee surgery, returned and won immediately. (Legendary golfer Ben Hogan went one better. In 1949, he had a near fatal car accident that left him with fractures to the collarbone, pelvis, ankle, rib. He left the hospital after 59 days, but returned in 1950 to win the US Open and eventually five more majors.)

Matchplay will suit Woods because he can afford to have bad, blowout holes given the seven rounds in five days. But it will be hard to win it all as he may not be ready for so much golf. As he said, the one thing he lacks is "golf stamina". 

He will probably not win the Matchplay event, and if he does, the rest of the field should be spanked for lack of belief. But he will want to win quickly, because even the greatest players need to refuel confidence. His friend Roger can tell him about that. 

Everyone is grateful Woods is returning: Writers, sponsors, fans (TV ratings and attendances have been down) - and even fellow golfers. This makes sense because everyone wants to see the best. But it is also a pity that a great game remains reliant on only one man.