Stamina Woods’ biggest problem

TIGER Woods, continuing his comeback 15 months after suffering severe leg injuries, says he can win this week’s PGA Championship if he can take the strain of walking 72 holes.

The 15-time major winner, who began his comeback by finishing 47th at last month’s Masters, faces another test this week at Southern Hills, where he won the PGA title 15 years ago.

“I feel like I can, definitely,” Woods (pictured) said about winning this week. “I just have to go out there and do it. I have to do my work. Starts on Thursday and I’ll be ready.”

Woods, hurt in a February 2021 car crash, didn’t have the stamina to finish well at Augusta, where weekend 78s were his worst Masters scores.

“I’ve gotten stronger since then. But still it’s still going to be sore and walking is a challenge,” Woods said.

“I can hit golf balls, but the challenge is walking. It’s going to be that way for the foreseeable future for sure.

“We’ve been working hard. I have days where it’s tough and other days where we can push through it. But we keep working at it.”

Woods, who was hospitalised for weeks and unable to walk for months, has rods, pins and screws in his right leg.

“There’s a lot of hardware in there and there’s going to be limitations to what I’m going to be able to do, but I’m going to get stronger,” Woods said.

“I don’t know how much that is or how much range of motion I’ll ever get back. But sure is a hell of a lot better than it was 12 months ago.”

Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy warned not to ignore Woods.

“He’s stubborn. He’s determined. This is what he lives for,” McIlroy said of Woods.