Lindsey Vonn is still looking to reclaim her status as one of the best skiers in the world, but Tiger Woods' girlfriend vowed not to rush her return this time.

Vonn, who is recovering from a second knee surgery to repair a torn ACL, said in an interview with The New York Times that she is not planning to return to competition until December.

"I feel like that's enough time to get ready," Vonn said. "But you never know. If I'm not ready, I can back off. I don't have to push myself into anything. I have time."

Vonn sustained a major knee injury for the first time in February 2013. She returned to training ahead of schedule, but it backfired as she re-injured her right knee, which required another major knee surgery.

The 29-year-old Olympic skiing champion admitted that she pushed herself too much last year because she was aiming to defend her downhill title in the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

"Last year, it felt like it was do or die," Vonn said. "I was thinking of possibly retiring after the 2015 world championships, so Sochi was a last Olympic chance, and I felt like I had to get there."

The former downhill event world champion also reiterated that retirement is not in sight despite sustaining major knee injuries, saying that she is eyeing to win another gold medal in the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea.

"I need to have another chance to defend my Olympic gold medal in the downhill," Vonn said. "I knew that in January as soon as I mentally accepted that I couldn't race in the Sochi Olympics. I want another chance to compete."

Meanwhile, caddie Steve Williams announced that he is planning to retire for good but would reconsider his decision if Tiger Woods calls him about a possible reunion.

Williams, who worked together with Woods for 11 years before parting ways in 2011, said in an interview with ESPN that he is ready to reunite with his former boss.

"He's definitely someone I'd consider," Williams said of Woods. "He's a tremendous talent, but it's hard to say right now because it's only two weeks since I've hung up the clubs."

Woods recently announced that he is planning to take a long break to rest his ailing back before returning in December for the Hero World Challenge in Orlando, Florida.

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