The head of the PGA Tour believes there is still a lot of goodwill towards Tiger Woods despite the world number one's recent transgressions.

Commissioner Tim Finchem also thinks that the sport will be able to survive Woods' self-imposed 'indefinite' absence from the game.

He said: "I'm not suggesting that his popularity level is going to soar again - I don't know where that's going to be.

"I think people generally are going to want him to succeed. They're going to want him to deal with his issues, they're going to want him to come back having dealt with them and I think he'll eventually find a significant amount of support.

"I don't see corporate America backing away from golf over Tiger's issues. When you step back and look at the last 13 years, Tiger Woods has been an incredibly positive asset and impactor for the PGA Tour.

"He's been good for the game and I think the game and the PGA Tour have been good for Tiger.

"At this time we anticipate, and I firmly believe, that that mutually beneficial relationship will continue when it's right. We'll just have to see how that plays out.

"I want him to come back and play, but if Tiger is out for a couple of months or eight months or a year, we're going to have a successful year."