Legendary golfer Tiger Woods would be making an appearance at the Hero World Challenge tournament, the 15-time major champion confirmed in an interview with Golf Digest. Woods suffered serious leg injuries in the February crash in California. In an interview with Golf Digest on Monday, Woods said he will probably never make a full-time return to professional golf and feared his leg would be amputated following a car crash earlier this year.
“I think something that is realistic is playing the tour one day, never full time, ever again, but pick and choose, just like Mr. (Ben) Hogan did,” Woods told interviewer Henni Koyack. Pick and choose a few events a year and you play around with that. You practice around that, and you gear yourself up for that. And you play. I think that’s how I’m going to have to play it from now on. It’s an unfortunate reality, but it’s my reality. And I understand it, and I accept it.”
Tiger Woods last played at the PNC Championship with his son, Charlie, and then had a fifth back procedure that kept him out the early part of the year before the accident. He suffered comminuted open fractures to both the tibia and the fibula in his right leg after losing control of his vehicle outside of Los Angeles in Feb this year. Woods said during his grueling rehabilitation, things as simple as watching his son play or listening to birds sing have taken on greater meaning.
“I have so far to go. I’m not even at the halfway point. I have so much more muscle development and nerve development that I have to do in my leg. At the same time, as you know, I’ve had five back operations. So I’m having to deal with that. So as the leg gets stronger, sometimes the back may act up. It’s a tough road. I’m just happy to be able to go out there and watch Charlie play, or go in the backyard and have an hour or two by myself with no one talking, no music, no nothing. I just hear the birds chirping. That part I’ve sorely missed,” he added.
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In 2019, Tiger Woods made an exceptional comeback, winning the Masters after fusion surgery, his fourth on his lower back. He won the Zozo Championship in Japan later in the year for his 82nd career victory on the PGA Tour, tying Sam Snead for the all-time record. Woods is to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in March.
“I don’t have to compete and play against the best players in the world to have a great life. After my back fusion, I had to climb Mt. Everest one more time. I had to do it, and I did. This time around, I don’t think I’ll have the body to climb Mt. Everest, and that’s OK. I can still participate in the game of golf. I can still if my leg gets ok, I can still click off a tournament here or there. But as far as climbing the mountain again and getting all the way to the top, I don’t think that’s a realistic expectation of me.”
Tiger Woods will play his first game after injury at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas this week. Notably, Woods is the tournament host of the Hero World Challenge.
