Tiger Woods has confirmed he plans to make a return to competition in the first interview he gave since his serious car crash last February.
The 45-year-old golfer, who is still recovering from multiple broken legs, expects to target just a few major tournaments this season.
“I think it’s realistic to want to play on the PGA Tour – but never full time, never again – but to choose, as Mr. (Ben) Hogan did. I’m going to pick a few events a year and focus around those, ”Woods said in a Zoom interview with Henni Koyack of Golf Digest from his home in South Florida.
“I think that’s how I’m going to have to play from now on. It’s an unfortunate reality, but it’s my reality. And I understand it, and I accept it. “
After three weeks in hospital, Woods revealed he was completely inactive for almost three months, being countered from spending his days in a hospital bed.
“I have so much way to go… I’m not even halfway there,” he said. I still have so much muscle and nerve development to do in my leg. At the same time, as you know, I had five back operations. So I have to face this. So when the leg gets stronger, the back can sometimes kick in. It is a difficult path. “
Woods said the prospect of playing with his 12-year-old son was a great motivator throughout the process. Some of the first images that surfaced after his accident were of Tiger watching Charlie during tournaments in Florida.
“I’m just happy that I can go out and watch Charlie play, or go out into the garden and have an hour or two on my own, with no one talking, no music, no nothing.” I just hear the birdsong. I had sorely missed it. “
Last week, Tiger Woods posted a video of himself hitting balls, suggesting he was anticipating an attempt to return to competition.
Woods had previously returned from multiple back surgeries to win the Masters Tournament in 2019. Woods won his fifth Masters and 15th major title and totaled three wins after returning in 2018.
He was recovering from another minor back intervention at the time of the accident.
Woods will speak to the press on Tuesday morning as part of the Hero World Challenge, a charity tournament he is hosting in the Bahamas, with 20 guests from among the best players in the world, including his compatriots Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas and Bryson deChambeau .
