Roger Federer believes the worst is over for his ``good friend'' Tiger Woods and hopes to see him back on the golf course, local reports said Monday.
``Tiger is a good friend of mine,'' Federer told the English language daily The Gulf News. ``What's happened to him has been hard to watch over the last three months, right down to when he made his apology. I am sure he's headed in a better direction now. The worst has passed.''
On Friday, a somber and composed Woods made his first public appearance since he crashed his car into a tree outside his family home three months ago, setting off shocking allegations of rampant extramarital relationships.
He admitted he cheated on his wife, said he was ``deeply sorry,'' but did not say when he will play golf again.
Federer was in the Gulf city-state to play in the Dubai Championships. The top-ranked tennis star, a four-time winner in Dubai, pulled out of the $2 million tournament Sunday because of a lung infection.
Federer said hoped to return at Indian Wells on March 11, but made no promises.
He did say he'd like to see Woods back playing golf soon.
``It's been hard to watch from far away, but I would love to see him back on the golf course,'' Federer was quoted as saying. ``It's what he does best.''
