Just over a year ago, Tiger Woods was involved in a devastating accident and nearly lost his life. The coming months were an up and down ride on his way back to a normal life. This week the Genesis Invitational is taking place at Riviera Country Club, Tiger Woods is also part of the tournament. He is unfortunately not yet fit enough to play himself, but will be at the tournament this week as Tournament Host. In a press conference on Wednesday of the tournament week, the 46-year-old commented on his health, how things will continue for him in professional sports and what he thinks about Mickelson’s accusations against the tour.
When will Tiger Woods make his comeback?
“Will I be back? Yes. Am I coming back and play a full tournament schedule? No,” he asked, answering. “That’s never going to happen again. I can play a few events here and there, but at a full-time level, no, that’s never going to happen again.” Tiger Woods’ press conference before the start of this year’s Genesis Invitational on the PGA Tour is sobering for his fans.
Many of the day’s questions revolved around his rehabilitation back to the Tour and how his fitness and golf game are faring. For him, and certainly for his supporters, the process is slow, perhaps too slow to have high hopes for a comeback anytime soon. When asked how his health and his game on the tour are doing, and if he is making much progress, he admitted: “Short game, yes, I can do that. As for the long game, no, that’s not going so well yet, because that means more strain, more rotation of the leg,” he said. “I still have a long way to go. My leg wasn’t in a good position about a year ago, and I had to go through a lot of different surgeries and scenarios.”
“Will I have sore muscles? Yes, but I can handle it.”
The possible comeback to professional golf seems a very long way off. A reporter asked him if he could imagine, or if it would even be physically possible, to play in the par-3 contest before the Masters and if a comeback was possible via that route. Woods clarified: “I’m talking about playing golf. By that I mean practice rounds plus a pro-am day, or if it’s a major, it’s even more,” he explained. “It’s the competitive nature of it that takes a toll on you mentally, physically and emotionally. I didn’t prepare for any of that. Going for a walk and playing a par-3 contest, I can handle that. Will I have sore muscles? Yes, but I can handle it.”
While this statement does not rule out possible participation, the answers Tiger has at the ready show one thing very clearly: golf like it used to be is still a very long way off for him, perhaps even completely impossible. His focus 12 months after the accident is still on the basics: “I’m still working on running. My foot was a little banged up about a year ago, so running is something I’m still working on, strength and development in that area. That takes time.”
Tiger Woods optimistic about players’ media rights
Tiger Woods, despite these adverse circumstances in his life, is grateful for what he still has after that fatal day. However, you can clearly see the frustration and strain on him. “The fact that I still have my right leg is great,” said Woods, who turned 46 in December. “I still have a lot of problems with it, but it’s mine and I’m very grateful for that. What’s frustrating is that it’s not on my schedule. I want to be at a certain point, but I’m not. To keep working, and getting better, yes, but not at the speed and pace I would like. You also have to consider the age factor. The healing process is not as fast anymore, which is frustrating.”
On the sidelines of his health issue, the conversation also briefly turned to Phil Mickelson’s statements and how Tiger Woods felt about them. The former world No. 1 was cautious in his comments on the subject. He is of the opinion that the media rights are a topic for Jay Monahan – Tour Commissioner of the PGA Tour. However, he said he was convinced that good talks were being held between the players and the tour and hoped that an agreement would be reached soon between the individual parties.