Tiger: I may never be fit for a return

TigEr WOODs has admitted that he might never return to competitive golf. On the day rory Mcilroy revealed plans for a full body MOt and a three-month sabbatical, former world No 1 Woods, 41, said: ‘i don’t know what the future holds for me. i don’t know what 100-per-cent healthy means after eight surgeries, but i’ll try and get as close as i can to that.

‘is anybody in their 40s ever going to feel like they did in their 20s? Exactly. At the moment i’m just hitting 60-yard shots.’

Woods (below) has only played six competitive rounds in the past two years while trying to recover from multiple back surgeries.

Mcilroy’s lay-off is to make sure that during the next decade he is not left behind by his rivals.

‘these three months can give me the foundation to turn the great career i’ve had so far into one of the greatest,’ he said. the testing will take place over two days in Manchester next month, as the Northern irishman tries to get to the bottom of not only his injury woes this season, but why he has felt fatigued on occasion. ‘there have been times when my joints have been inflamed or my energy levels low,’ he revealed. ‘i need to delve deeper to see where i can get better. After that, i’ll head to Dubai for four weeks of rehab. ‘it is vital i use these weeks to improve. i need to be ready to start next year in a much better place.’ Mcilroy, 28, admitted it was a mistake to play in the Us Open in June, when he was not fully fit. And without the necessary rest for his rib injury to heal he paid for that decision with a flurry of missed cuts. Before his sabbatical, he has two more tournaments to fulfil his required total to remain a member of the European tour — and therefore eligible for the ryder Cup. ‘there’s minimums and stuff like that and i’ve sort of been quite close to the edge on minimums the last few years,’ said Mcilroy, who had previously considered ending his season after the Us PgA in August in order to regain full fitness.

‘i didn’t want to give them (the European tour) a difficult decision of what to do if i didn’t play sufficient events. Besides, i want to play in the ryder Cup.’

First up is the British Masters at Close house, near Newcastle, where he will tee off today alongside Andy sullivan and Matt Fitzpatrick, before he completes his minimum five events at next week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at st Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns.

Mcilroy remains on course for only the second winless season of his career but insisted he will feel more pressure to simply make the cut when he contests the Dunhill with his father gerry.

‘Obviously i’m here to try to win and i’m here to try to play well, but if it doesn’t happen i’m okay with that,’ he said.

‘there’s more pressure (next week), for sure. i’ve just got to make sure he makes the cut and we can both play on sunday.’