ONE of the two burning questions about Tiger Woods was answered on Monday with a birth announcement.

Writing on his website, Woods said that he and his wife, Elin Nordegren, were now the parents of a boy, Charlie Axel Woods, who was born on Sunday.

'Both Charlie and Elin are doing great and we want to thank everyone for their sincere best wishes and kind thoughts,' said Woods.

The second-most asked question concerns the timing of the return of Woods, the world's No. 1 golfer.

Woods, 33, last played in June, winning the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines in a 91-hole classic that ended with a sudden-death victory over Rocco Mediate after an 18-hole playoff ended in a tie.

After winning his 14th Major, Woods said he had been playing on an injured left leg that included a torn anterior cruciate ligament and hairline fractures of the tibia.

He underwent reconstructive knee surgery the day after the playoff, and has been rehabilitating the knee ever since. Last week, he gave no indication when he might return to the PGA Tour.

He did provide a glimpse into how his rehabilitation has been going by saying: 'Rehab is going great, fantastic. I feel like everything is right on schedule now, the leg feels stronger than it ever has - actually, both legs.'

There has been speculation that Woods could return as soon as 25 Feb at the World Golf Championship-Accenture Match Play in Tucson.

Hopeful

'We're hopeful he'll make the Accenture Match Play Championship his first event back,' said tournament director Wade Dunagan.

'The truth is, I don't know where we stand with that. It's one less obstacle, but he may want to stay home for another week now that the baby is born.'

Woods is expected to try to play at least two warm-up tournaments before the Masters in April.

If he is to return for the Accenture, he will have to announce his commitment by 20 Feb, before the end of second-round play in the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles.

In the meantime, Woods will be busy with the couple's new baby.

Charlie is their second child. Their first child, a girl named Sam Alexis, was born in June 2007, one day after the US Open.

'Sam is very excited to be a big sister, and we feel truly blessed to have such a wonderful family,' said Woods.

He added that he and his wife would introduce the new member of the family 'at the appropriate time.'

Woods is likely to be unavailable for comment until he shows up at a tournament, so the significance of his son's name was not clear. His daughter's name - Sam - was the pet name that Earl Woods called a young Tiger.

Woods has great respect for Charlie Sifford, the first black to become a PGA Tour member - Sifford playfully refers to Woods as 'my grandson.' Axel is a Swedish name which means 'father of peace'.

But the big question remains the left knee.

'I'm full-bore with my practice sessions and have no restrictions,' Woods said in a newsletter last week.

'It's just a matter of getting my golf endurance up. I don't have my golf stamina back yet.'

- AP.