Tiger Woods Confirms Intent To Return To PGA Tour Following Serious February Car Crash
The 15-time Major champion revealed his intention to return to the PGA Tour, stating he would "pick and choose" the events he features in.
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Only a week on from the swing video (opens in new tab) that brought the golfing world into meltdown, Tiger Woods has revealed, in an interview with Golf Digest, that he will not return on a full-time basis to the PGA Tour, but will instead pick and choose the tournaments he plays in.
“I think something that is realistic is playing the tour one day—never full time, ever again—but pick and choose, just like Mr. [Ben] Hogan did. Pick and choose a few events a year and you play around that,” Woods said to Golf Digest’s Henni Koyack.
“You practice around that, and you gear yourself up for that. I think that’s how I’m going to have to play it from now on. It’s an unfortunate reality, but it’s my reality. And I understand it, and I accept it.”
Woods, who has a history of serious knee and back surgeries, followed on from the statement, saying “I don’t have to compete and play against the best players in the world to have a great life. After my back fusion, I had to climb Mt. Everest one more time. I had to do it, and I did.
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"This time around, I don’t think I’ll have the body to climb Mt. Everest, and that’s okay. I can still participate in the game of golf. I can still, if my leg gets okay, I can still click off a tournament here or there, but as far as climbing the mountain again and getting all the way to the top, I don’t think that’s a realistic expectation of me.”
Woods' car hit a tree at 75mph according to the police after travelling at speeds of up to 87mph in a 45mph zone.
With the 15-time Major champion recovering well from his serious car crash (opens in new tab) in February, Woods also revealed that he feared his leg would actually be amputated following the accident. The 45-year-old sustained open fractures to the tibia and fibula and, at one point, there was a very real possibility of losing his right leg.
“There was a point in time when, I wouldn’t say it was 50/50, but it was damn near there if I was going to walk out of that hospital with one leg," he said.
"Once I (kept it), I wanted to test and see if I still had my hands. So, even in the hospital, I would have (girlfriend) Erica (Herman) and (friend) Rob (McNamara) throw me something. Throw me anything.”
Following his release from hospital, Woods began his rehabilitation process, with three months in a hospital-type bed in his home being followed by a wheelchair. The 45-year-old then progressed to crutches, which allowed him to regain independence and move around at his own will.
.@TigerWoods' first interview back.Watch here: https://t.co/OD1cd7OU9D pic.twitter.com/4YP2Nro1nzNovember 29, 2021
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"It's been a hell of a road, it's been a long one and a sore one but I'm making some really positive strides," Woods added.
"I've had some really tough days and some setbacks here and there, but overall everything is progressing nicely. I just wish I could do everything that I used to do but I'm not quite there yet."
Woods is scheduled to hold his first press conference since the accident at the Hero World Challenge event in Albany on Tuesday, an event that he has hosted for a number of years now.
However, the 15-time Major champion did add "I still have so far to go - I'm not even at the halfway point. I have so much more muscle development and nerve development that I have to do in my leg. At the same time, I've had five back operations. So as the leg gets stronger, sometimes the back may act up - it's a tough road."
Although it is unclear as to what tournament will mark Woods' return, what we do know is it feels so good to see Tiger back in the golfing environment.
Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover weekend news and social media, as well as help look after Golf Monthly’s many buyers’ guides and equipment reviews.
Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round came in 2016, where he shot a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine holes. He currently plays at Witney Lakes in Oxfordshire and his favourite player is Rory McIlroy, despite nearly being struck by his second shot at the 17th during the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.
Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?
Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°
Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Rocketballz Stage 2, 15°, 19°
Hybrid: Adams Super Hybrid, 22°
Irons: Mizuno MP54, 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°
Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
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