In his first public appearance since his horrific February car crash, Tiger Woods shot down any questions regarding the accident, instead focusing on his recovery and golf future.
“Yeah, all those answers have been answered in the investigation, so you can read about all that there in the post report,” Woods said when asked about the crash.
Woods, who has had 10 surgeries in his career, told reporters that this particular recovery has been more difficult than the others.
“This one’s been much more difficult. The knee stuff that I had on my left knee, those operations were one thing, that’s one level,” Woods said. “Then you add the back, that’s another level. And then with this right leg, it’s hard to explain how difficult it has been just to be immobile for the three months. I just lay there and I was just looking forward to getting outside. That was a goal of mine.”
“It’s been tough at times — some dark moments — but then again, as I was making progress through it too, I could see some light,” Woods continued. “And that was giving me hope. I’m able to participate more with my kids and their activities. And life in general. As I said, I’m on the positive side.”
On Monday, Golf Digest published an interview with Woods in which the 15-time major winner said that playing on the PGA Tour full time would never happen again. When asked about when he’ll make his return to the course on Tuesday, Woods was noncommittal.
“I’ll put it to you this way: As far as playing at the Tour level, I don’t know when that’s going to happen,” he said. “Now, I’ll play a round here or there, a little hit-and-giggle. I can do something like that … “
“At least I’m able to do it again. That’s something that for a while there it didn’t look like I was going to. Now I’m able to participate in the sport of golf. Now, to what level, I do not know that.”
When asked about his career being altered because of injury, Woods said that coming back from back surgery in 2017 to win the 2019 Masters has made it easier for him to accept.
“I got that last major, and I ticked off two more events along the way,” Woods said. “I don’t foresee this leg ever being what it used to be, hence I’ll never have the back what it used to be, and [the] clock’s ticking. I’m getting older, I’m not getting any younger. All that combined means that a full schedule and a full practice schedule and the recovery that it would take to do that, no, I don’t have any desire to do that.”
“But to ramp up for a few events a year as I alluded to yesterday, like Mr. [Ben] Hogan did, he did a pretty good job of it, and there’s no reason that I can’t do that and feel ready,” he continued. “I’ve come off surgeries before, I’ve come off long layoffs and I’ve won or come close to winning before. So, I know the recipe for it. I’ve just got to get to a point where I feel comfortable enough where I can do that again.”
Woods’ full interview can be seen below.
Tournament host @TigerWoods meets with the media at the Hero World Challenge. 🎤 https://t.co/8T05NMTFKf
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 30, 2021
Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to [email protected].