Golf legend Tiger Forest has a goal of competing on the PGA Tour at least once a month, but he admitted Tuesday during the Hero World Challenge that he’s not close to that yet.
Woods spoke to reporters ahead of the event in the Bahamas, where he said he still has a “long way to go” before returning to the tour after further back surgery.
Woods underwent microdecompression surgery, which he hopes can help him become strong enough to play on the court PGA Tour at least once a month.
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Tiger Woods waves after his weather-delayed second round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 8, 2023 in Augusta, Georgia. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Woods said he was in severe pain toward the end of this year’s season, to the point where he knew he had to do something to get himself back to normal.
“I didn’t think my back would go this way this year,” he said, via Yahoo Sports. “It was quite painful all year round so I had another procedure done to relieve the pain in my leg.
TIGER WOODS ANNOUNCES THAT HE WILL NOT PLAY IN THE TOURNAMENT HE HAS ANNUAL
“So whether my commitment going forward is once a month, yes, I could say that again, but I really don’t know.”
Woods added that continuing to rehabilitate and get stronger is the top priority for now. As soon as he feels like he can start swinging golf club by his standards, he will consider playing again.
The Tiger Woods Foundation is a beneficiary of the Hero World Challenge, which is why the 15-time major winner is in the Bahamas, despite announcing last week that he would not be competing.
Tiger Woods walks to the fourth tee during the third round of the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club on May 21, 2022 in Tulsa, Okla. (Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
“I’m still not there yet,” Woods said of being “tournament sharp.” “And these are 20 of the best players in the world, and I’m not sharp enough to compete against them at this level.”
Woods did battle through injury, but he was able to achieve a small milestone this year by competing in all four majors for the first time since 2020. He finished 60th at the Masters, although he missed the cut at the PGA ChampionshipUS Open and The Open.
Aside from these events, Woods competed in the Genesis Invitational in February, but withdrew from the tournament midway through his second round.
Woods will turn 49 at the end of this month, but he told reporters that “the fire is still burning to compete.”
Tiger Woods on the 12th hole during the second round of the Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Troon. (Jack Gruber/USA Today Sports)
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Golf fans will wait patiently, hoping that Woods can return to the course next year.
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