Tiger Woods’ return from injury still a long way off

Golf legend Tiger Woods has admitted that he still does not know when he will play golf again as he discussed his recovery from injuries he suffered in a car crash last year.

Woods, 46, required surgery on open fractures to his lower right leg and further injuries to his foot and ankle after a single-vehicle accident in Los Angeles on February 23, 2021.

At one point Woods feared that his right leg would have to be amputated, but the 15-times major winner returned to action in December, finishing second in the PNC Championship alongside his son, Charlie.

Woods hopes to be able to compete on the PGA Tour but admits that he will never play a full schedule again.

“I wish I could tell you when I’m playing again. I want to know, but I don’t,” the 46-year-old said in a press conference before the Genesis Invitational at Riviera, where he is the tournament host.

“My golf activity has been very limited. I can chip and putt really well, hit short irons really well but haven’t done any really long stuff seriously.

 “I’m still working on the walking part. It takes time. What’s frustrating is not [being] at my timetable. I want to be at a certain place but I’m not. I’m getting better, yes, but not at the speed and rate that I would like.

“I have seen progress, I am a lot stronger than I was. I can play weekend warrior golf, that’s easy, but to be able to be out here and play six rounds of golf — practice round, pro-am, four competitive days — I’m not able to do that yet.

“I can walk on a treadmill all day, that’s easy, there’s no bumps in the road. But walking on a golf course where there’s undulations . . . I have a long way to go.

 “My leg was not in a very good position about a year ago and I’ve had to work through a lot of different operations and a lot of different scenarios and it’s been tough, but I’ve gotten here and I still have a long way to go. Each and every day is a fight and I welcome that fight. Get up in the morning and let’s go a few more rounds.”

While a full competitive return remains a long way off, Woods admitted that he would be physically capable of playing the pre-tournament par-three contest before the Masters on April 6.

“I can do that now,” he added. “Whether I do that or not, I don’t know.”