“I do play quite a bit,” Woods said. “A heck of a lot more now.”

The world's top-ranked golfer has been sidelined since winning the U.S. Open in June, recovering from surgery on his left knee to repair a torn ligament.

Woods said in a telephone interview that he plays friends in tournaments on EA Sports' Tiger Woods PGA Tour game. He plays as self-created characters: “One's a really buffed-out dude,” another is pudgy.

EA Sports launched the '09 version of the game this week, and also announced a partnership with Gillette. Woods is one of the “Gillette Champions” in marketing for the shaver maker.

Woods said he actually learns from playing the virtual courses.

“I've had certain putts I had in real-life competition break the same way and by the same amount,” he said. “It's amazing.”

He expects to be out swinging real golf clubs in January, but said it's too soon to know when he'll be able to compete again.

“It's frustrating. I really have no idea,” he said.