PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. - With reports that Tiger Woods has resumed hitting golf balls at home, the man whose records he's chasing said he wouldn't be surprised to see the 14-time major winner return in time to play the Masters Tournament.

"It would surprise me if he didn't," said Jack Nicklaus on Tuesday after playing in a pro-am at PGA National. "Oh yeah, I can't imagine in a hundred years he's going to miss Augusta."

Woods has been on indefinite leave since revelations of repeated infidelities surfaced after a post-Thanksgiving car accident outside his home in Florida.

Woods said on Feb. 19 that he would return to playing golf, "I just don't know when that day will be. I don't rule out that it will be this year."

Nicklaus said in January that Woods' quest to catch his record of 18 majors would be more difficult if Woods skipped his chances this year on venues where he has won multiple times. Each of the two most decorated major champions won half of their career majors at Augusta National, Pebble Beach and St. Andrews. The U.S. and British Opens will be played at Pebble and St. Andrews.

Acknowledging that he was only speculating like everyone else, Nicklaus weighed in on the subject of Tiger's return Tuesday.

"I don't know - I've been very non-commital about everything because it's none of my business," Nicklaus said. "As it relates to him playing golf, my guess is as a golfer he's going to want to try and play Augusta if he has his other things in order."

Nicklaus said in his prime it took him a couple weeks of good practice and a couple of tournaments to be sharp after any significant layoff. He believes Woods might try to play a tournament before the Masters to tune up.

"I suspect he will play something before Augusta," Nicklaus said. "Your guess is as good as mine, but I would be very surprised if he didn't play something before Augusta."

Woods has until Friday at 5 p.m. to commit to playing in next week's WGC event at Doral. There has been speculation that he might play in the exclusive Tavistock Cup team matches at his home course in Isleworth on the Monday and Tuesday before Bay Hill. He is the defending champion and a six-time winner at Bay Hill.