RISK I’M WILLING TO TAKE

BY NEIL McLEMAN

TIGER WOODS has revealed he has not played on the PGA Tour since the re-start because he was fearful of Covid-19. And the Masters champion has claimed he is taking a “risk” returning at the The Memorial this week. Woods has not appeared since February as he missed events before lockdown because of a back problem. He played superbly – and did not miss a fairway – in a charity match in Florida in May but opted to miss the first five events back since June 11. The 15-time Major winner, 44, will now tee up tomorrow at an event he has won five times in a superstar group with Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka. Woods said: “I did consider playing before, trying to figure out if I should play or not. “But I just felt it was better to stay at home and be safe. “I’m used to playing with lots of people around me or having lots of people have a direct line to me, and that puts not only myself in danger but my friends and family. “That’s something that I looked at and said, ‘Well, I’m not quite comfortable with that whole idea. Let’s see how it plays out first and let’s see how the Tour has played out, how they’ve started.’ And I feel I’m comfortable enough to come back out here and play again.” Six players and two caddies tested positive over the first four weeks back on tour. “That’s the risk that I’m taking,” said the world No.14. “But it’s a risk that I’m willing to take. It feels great to be back.” For his whole career Woods, one of sport’s most recognisable personalities, has been the focus of the golfing world. The American is followed by massive galleries and battalions of reporters,

“That is something I’ve been accustomed to. But this is a different world and one we’re going to have to get used to.”

Woods last competed on the