Just as Adam Scott takes his place atop the PGA Tour's world rankings, Tiger Woods said he intends to return to competitive play this summer.

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The Daily Mail reported that Woods, in Las Vegas to compete in a charity poker tournament as part of the Tiger Jam weekend in support of his Tiger Woods Foundation, talked about his return.

According to the Daily Mail:

"For his part Tiger, who missed the Masters due to injury, said he would return to golfing 'this year' adding 'it'll be this summer.'

"He said: 'I'm just practicing and strengthening, and trying to get back. ... no hurry.' "

No hurry, except it'll be this summer.

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Certainly if doctors clear him to play, the 38-year-old Woods will be back on the course as soon as possible, but it would seem to be reasonable for Woods to take extra time to ensure that his back - and the rest of his body are fully recovered.

Woods also has suffered knee and shoulder injuries, and his best friend Notah Begay suggested that the injuries all are due to overcompensation for other simultaneous injuries.

But as of today, Scott will end Woods' latest 60-week reign as the No. 1 golfer on the PGA Tour. And someone with the competitive nature Woods has probably won't allow that to continue for long without a fight.

It was reported recently that Woods doesn't even let his own children beat him in anything competitive; he believes in making them earn it and won't lay down for them.

So he's not about to lay down for the 33-year-old Scott, who become the first Australian golfer to claim the top ranking since Greg Norman, who had the top ranking as late as 1998.

"This is another outstanding achievement for Adam Scott," Brian Thorburn, Chief Executive of the PGA of Australia, said in a statement, as reported by Yahoo! Sports. "The Australian golfing community is very proud of Adam and we look forward to watching his progress throughout the year."

Woods now has two motivational factors to drive him back to playing - losing the No. 1 ranking and not missing any more major events that leave him fewer opportunities to catch Jack Nicklaus' career record of 18 major wins.

Tiger has been stuck on 14 for six years. He's not taking any added time off to make sure his body is right once doctors clear him.

Even if it is the most practical course of action.

Do you think Tiger Woods should take a couple of extra months off just to make sure all his nagging injuries are gone? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.