Woods in no hurry to return to action
‘I’m feeling good, strong and doing really well’
TIGER Woods has given another positive update on his fitness but admits he is “not in golf shape yet” and has no date in mind for a return to competitive action.
Woods has not played since withdrawing from the Dubai Desert Classic at the start of February and is currently recovering from a fourth back operation in the last three years.
The former world number one said last month he had been cleared to resume shortgame practice and revealed he has been making progress via a blog on his website yesterday.
‘As I wrote earlier this summer, I had a few matters to work on with my doctors and I did that,’ wrote the 14-time major winner, who will be an assistant captain for the United States in next week’s Presidents Cup.
‘I’m feeling good, strong and doing really well.
‘About my most recent surgery, it’s nice not to live in pain any more. I’m sleeping better because I don’t have any nerve pain going down my leg. It makes a world of difference.
‘I’m starting to hit the ball a little further — 60-yard shots. I have not taken a full swing since my back fusion surgery last April, but continue to chip and putt every day.
‘The latter is paying off. Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler have been dropping by my house for putting contests. Justin also comes over to practice his chipping. It was fun to celebrate his PGA Championship win with him and Rickie, and we had a blast.
‘I have my six-month back X-rays coming up. Once my surgeon takes a look, he’ll give me the parameters of what I can do moving forward.
‘Playing wise, I’m not looking ahead yet because I don’t know what kind of swing I’m going to use. I just don’t know what my body is going to allow me to do. Until I do, I’m going to listen to my doctors and continue to take it slowly.’ Last month Woods pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence, but agreed to enter a rehabilitation programme that would see the charge dropped later this year. The 41-year-old has agreed to plead guilty to reckless driving at an October 25 hearing and enter a programme for first-time DUI offenders after he was found asleep at the wheel of his car in May.
A 79-times winner on the PGA Tour who was world number one for a record total of 683 weeks, Woods stunningly lost form in recent years due to injuries and the mastering of a new swing while his ranking has plummeted to a mind-boggling 1,136th after his long spell on the sidelines.
Meanwhile, four-times major winner Rory McIlroy believes the PGA Tour will eventually merge with the European Tour as it is “counter-productive” for them to compete against each other.
The Irishman said one way of achieving a unified circuit would be if the US-based circuit bought the European Tour and continued to run its events.
‘The World Tour — it’s going to happen one day and I think it has to,’ McIlroy, who failed to qualify for this week’s Tour Championship in Atlanta, told the “No Laying Up” golf podcast.
‘To have all these tours competing against each other, and having to change dates, it’s counter-productive. I think everyone has to come together,’ added the 28-year-old.
‘The easy thing would be for the PGA Tour to buy the European Tour and take it from there. They could still run the European events and we’ll have, say, 12 big events a year, outside the majors, a bit like they do in tennis.
‘I don’t see any other way. I know discussions have taken place, so maybe one day.’