What to expect from Tiger Woods this year, on and off the course

The outcomes have been most likely what Tiger Woods ought to have anticipated in final week’s Hero World Problem within the Bahamas. In his first begin in additional than seven months, the 15-time main champion completed even par and 18th out of 20 gamers within the unofficial PGA Tour occasion.

Extra importantly, although, Woods’ surgically repaired proper ankle and foot did not bother him whereas strolling 72 holes at Albany. He had fusion surgical procedure April 19 to alleviate post-traumatic arthritis brought on by accidents in a February 2021 automotive wreck. Woods mentioned final week that his proper ankle was primarily “bone-on-bone” earlier than his newest process.

“It is not bothering me, no,” Woods mentioned, when he was requested concerning the ankle.

That does not imply the remainder of his physique did not damage. Woods has undergone at the least 4 microdisectomy procedures on his again, most not too long ago in December 2020 to alleviate nerve ache in his decrease again. He had a extra complicated spinal fusion in April 2017 that sidelined him for about 11 months.

“My again hurts every single day,” Woods mentioned. “It’s what it’s, that is simply life. However I can cope with that, that is not an issue.”

On prime of the accidents, Woods can be battling Father Time. He turns 48 on Dec. 30. He is competing towards golfers who’re a lot youthful than he’s, most of them of their 20s and 30s.

Woods mentioned it nonetheless takes him about 4 or 5 hours to get well from taking part in a spherical. His post-round therapy consists of massages and ice baths. Getting his again, leg and ankle activated by bodily remedy and time within the gymnasium earlier than every spherical makes for an extended day.

“It is about the identical, simply I haven’t got the bone ache that I did,” Woods mentioned. “However I nonetheless should undergo the identical protocols. It takes a very long time. That is the unlucky factor about growing old and making an attempt to do one thing that both I’ve worn out my physique or making an attempt to maintain up with the youthful individuals. It takes a very long time pre- and post-[round]. You spend extra time within the therapy room and weight room than you do on a golf course. That is simply a part of wanting to hold round as an athlete.”

Followers will most likely see Woods yet one more time this calendar 12 months. He is scheduled to play along with his son, Charlie, Dec. 14-17 within the PNC Championship on the Ritz-Carlton Golf Membership in Orlando. Woods jokes that it is the “fifth main,” as he and his 14-year-old son will probably be competing towards Woods’ good good friend Justin Thomas and Thomas’ father, Mike.

Woods mentioned final week that he hopes to play one event a month in 2024. His first begin may come Feb. 13 within the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Nation Membership exterior Los Angeles, a 72-hole event that he hosts. Just like the Hero World Problem, it advantages Woods’ TGR Basis.

Regardless of making solely 5 begins in official PGA Tour occasions the previous two seasons, Woods has an exemption into the Gamers Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Seashore, Florida, March 14-17. His fifth Masters victory in April 2019 earned him a five-year exemption into the Gamers.

Woods may choose to compete March 7-10 within the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando as an alternative. It would not give him as a lot time to get well after the Genesis Invitational, however Bay Hill Membership and Lodge is perhaps a better stroll than TPC Sawgrass.

The Masters will probably be performed April 11-14 at Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership. Final 12 months, Woods made his twenty third consecutive reduce, tying Gary Player and Fred Couples for the longest streak within the event’s historical past. He withdrew halfway by the rain-delayed third spherical due to extreme ache in his proper foot and ankle. On the time, Woods mentioned the ache was brought on by plantar fasciitis. He had subtalar fusion surgical procedure on his proper ankle about two weeks later.

If all the things goes proper, Woods would most likely spend the following three months competing within the majors: PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Membership in Louisville, Kentucky, Could 16-19; U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 in Pinehurst, North Carolina, June 13-16; and The Open at Royal Troon Golf Course in Troon, Scotland, July 18-21.

In 2000, Woods gained his second straight PGA Championship at Valhalla, defeating Bob May in a three-hole playoff.

Whether or not Woods’ taking part in schedule extends past July will rely on his well being and the way properly he performs within the majors. He most likely will not make sufficient PGA Tour begins to qualify for the FedEx Cup playoffs — until he does one thing magical in one of many 4 main championships.

“I believe that I can get into the rhythm of it,” Woods mentioned. “I believe that having a few weeks off to get well, per week to construct up, there isn’t any motive why I can not get into that rhythm. It is only a matter of getting in higher form, principally. I really feel like my recreation’s not that far off, however I must get in higher form.”

General, Woods appeared glad along with his efficiency on the Hero World Problem. He mentioned he drove the ball “on just about a string all week” on vast fairways at Albany. He mentioned his ball pace was up off the tee. He admitted he had work to do along with his brief recreation; Albany is taken into account one of many harder programs across the inexperienced due to the grain.

“To have the ability to knock off among the rust as I’ve this week and confirmed myself that I can get well every day, that was form of an unknown so far as I’ve walked this far,” Woods mentioned. “I’ve executed all my coaching, however add in taking part in and focus and adrenaline and all these different elements that pace up all the things. I am very enthusiastic about how the week’s turned out.”

Though Woods mentioned he did not have to regulate his swing after the newest surgical procedure, there are areas the place he has needed to make changes.

“There’s quite a lot of issues I can not try this I used to have the ability to do with a golf ball,” Woods mentioned. “I used to have the ability to name upon any form, any shot everytime you wished and was capable of contort myself to these photographs. I can not try this anymore. I’ve at all times been one which has been capable of hit the ball in the midst of the face, in order that’s been good. I am hitting the ball additional than I did after I first got here out on tour. I am slower, however [with technology] I am nonetheless capable of hit the ball in the midst of the face, so there’s at all times a bonus to try this.”

Scottie Scheffler, who gained the Hero World Problem by 3 strokes over Sepp Straka, mentioned Woods nonetheless produces a recognizable sound when he is flushing iron photographs on the apply vary.

“I really like wanting down the vary and seeing him hit balls and listening to that sound,” Scheffler mentioned. “He is nonetheless bought the identical sound, which is wonderful. I really feel rusty coming off two months and not using a event. He goes virtually a 12 months at a time and he comes again and he performs positive golf.”

Whereas Woods’ return to aggressive golf comes at an necessary time for the PGA Tour because it continues to battle the LIV Golf League for the world’s finest gamers, his work on the tour’s coverage board is perhaps much more necessary. Woods was named a participant director Aug. 1, after the PGA Tour’s beautiful June 6 announcement that it had signed a framework settlement with Saudi Arabia’s Public Funding Fund and the DP World Tour.

The framework settlement is ready to run out Dec. 31, and PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan final week known as {that a} “agency deadline.” The tour can be entertaining funding proposals from a handful of U.S.-based fairness teams.

Like Jack Nicklaus and Palmer earlier than him, Woods has taken on an integral position in shaping the way forward for the tour.

“Tiger’s not somebody that is going to go at something 50 p.c,” Scheffler mentioned. “He’ll go 100% into no matter he is doing, and proper now that is quite a lot of stuff for the tour. As a participant, I am extraordinarily grateful for what he is doing. He has our greatest pursuits in thoughts, and he is not going to compromise relating to what’s finest for the gamers. His voice undoubtedly holds quite a lot of weight.

“So for us as gamers, it is nice to have him on our facet. It is nice that he desires to do that stuff. That is one other factor, he does not have to try this. He may simply sail off into the sundown, by no means contact a membership once more, by no means do something once more, simply go reside his life and revel in [the] second half of his life and do no matter.”

Jordan Spieth, one other participant director on the coverage board, mentioned Woods is not “stepping in to throw affect wherever.”

“It simply comes with him when he walks within the door,” Spieth mentioned. “He is a listener, and he has quite a lot of expertise. He is seen the PGA Tour undergo quite a lot of totally different adjustments over virtually 30 years for him now. He comes with that form of perspective in addition to one way or the other a manner of recognizing what might be good for the PGA Tour and its complete membership when he is by no means been an peculiar member, nevertheless it does not appear misplaced on him.”

Thomas in contrast his position to Nicklaus and Palmer passing Woods the torch greater than a quarter-century in the past.

“It was an honor for him to form of get the torch handed to him from Arnold and Jack,” Thomas mentioned. “I believe he is taking a look at it as he desires to form of cross that to no matter the next technology is.

“I believe as little as he is taking part in, it’s extremely clear that the choices he is making and ideas that he has is not for his personal good, it is for the betterment of the sport. As a participant who’s out right here, I imply, somebody of his stature and somebody along with his accomplishments, he does not have to be taking the time to try this. He may very properly simply be posted up and are available play each time he desires. However he takes it significantly. He desires the sport of golf to proceed to develop and be in an important spot.”