PA Media's golf correspondent Phil Casey has followed Tiger Woods' career over the years, interviewing him at press conferences and watching him at close quarters at golf's majors.  Here he gives his view on the future of one of the world's greatest sport stars.

Writing off Tiger Woods is usually a bad idea, although we have at least had plenty of opportunities to practice.

There was the aftermath of his first car crash in November 2009, when a collision with a fire hydrant near his Florida home eventually led to admissions of infidelity and cost Woods his marriage and reputation.

News of a fifth back operation on December 23 was therefore treated with relatively minor concern, but the world gazed in horror at the images of Woods' smashed car on Tuesday after it careered off a Los Angeles road and rolled several times, leaving Woods trapped inside with significant injuries to his right leg and ankle.

Surely an 11th comeback after an absence certain to be far longer than 10 weeks is beyond even Woods, whose 45-year-old body had been put through so much even before the accident?

Those of us who have been fortunate to spend almost 25 years reporting on Woods are well aware of his unwavering determination, self-belief, resilience and, of course, incredible talent.

But he will need all of that and more to pull off the greatest comeback of his amazing career, one to rival that of Ben Hogan, who recovered from a near-fatal car crash to win six of his nine major titles.

Surely this time those writing him off will not look so foolish.