It sounds as though we won’t see Tiger Woods on a PGA Tour golf course any time soon.
The 14-time major winner was at the Quicken Loans National on Sunday, but he wasn’t there to compete. Instead, Woods talked about his plans for 2016 with Jim Nantz, telling the announcer the only person he probably could beat right now is his 7-year-old son.
“Close to what?” Woods said. “To beating Charlie? Yeah, I’m close to beating Charlie. That’s about it.”
Woods underwent back surgery in April 2014 and had a rough go of the 2015 major tournaments, finishing tied for 17th in the Masters and failing to make the cut at the U.S. Open and British Open. He underwent another back surgery this September and hasn’t played in any PGA Tour event in 2016. And while Woods is working toward a return, he’s unsure if he’ll be able to play.
“I don’t know,” Woods told Nantz. “I want to play, put it that way. I want to play, I don’t know if I will. But I do want to, and I’m trying.
“I’m trying each and every day, I’m doing my workouts, sometimes they’re two and three times a day. I’m working my tail off. I’ve trimmed down. I’m still the same weight, but I’ve lost body fat. I’ve gained more lean muscle, I’ve gotten stronger. I’m a little bit faster than I used to be.
“So all that’s a positive, but I still need to get now into golf shape, and that’s just hitting ball after ball after ball and getting my golf muscles back.”
Woods turns 41 this year, so when he does return, it’s hard to say if he’ll be back in major-winning form. But Woods says he’s not going to rush back like last time, so maybe we’ll see a whole new player.
Thumbnail photo via Rob Kinnan/USA TODAY Sports Images
