TUCSON, Arizona (AFP) – Tiger Woods, a ruthless competitor on the golf course who has translated his prowess into victories around the globe was surprised to find just how much he enjoyed home life.

The US superstar, idle for eight months as he recovered from knee surgery, returns to competition this week at the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship.

Although he's keen to get back into action, Woods said he hadn't realized how much fun being a full-time dad can be.

He and wife Elin have a daughter, Sam, who was born in June of 2007, and on February 8 their family grew with the birth of a son, Charlie Axel.

"I didn't realize how much I loved being home and being around Sam and E and now Charlie," Woods said on Tuesday. "I'll tell you what, that's something that is just so important to me.

"I knew family would be, and it has been. But I didn't know it would be to this degree, the closeness that I feel.

"That's something that was a blessing in disguise, to be away from the game and have an opportunity to be a part of Sam's growth and development and watch it.

"We've had so much fun, so many great times, and I would have missed some of those things," Woods said.

The exact date of Woods's return to tournament play was dictated by Charlie's birth. Once Elin and the baby were settled in at home, Woods said, he was ready to go back to work.

"My practice sessions have been going really well, so I felt good there," he said. "It was just a matter of Elin and Charlie feeling good, and as long as they're healthy and secure at home, then I was ready to come back and play."

The arrival of a new baby produced the predictable disrupted nights.

"This is my week to get some sleep, get some rest, so I'll take full advantage of it," he joked. "On a serious note, it's great. To have Charlie healthy and Elin healthy and obviously Sam just doing great, it couldn't be any better."

Source: AFP