Tiger: ‘Remarkable’ to have no pain
As he prepares for his return to golf, Tiger Woods says his life is 'so much better' now that he's not dealing with constant pain.
Woods will make his golfing comeback at this week's Hero World Challenge on the PGA Tour, a tournament he also hosts, as a member of the elite 18-man field.
The 14-time major champion hasn't played since February, after undergoing back surgery for the fourth time in three years.
It's been a tough, slow recovery – as a May 2017 charge for driving under the influence of too many painkillers clearly shows – but Woods has spent the past six months working on himself on and off the course, and the results appear to have been very positive.
“The fact that I don’t have any pain in my lower back compared to what I was living with for years, it’s just remarkable,” Woods told Golf Channel.
“[At first] I just chipped [driver]. I was like, ‘Yep, I hit driver today'. I’ve progressed over a few days, hitting driver a little hard and harder and harder until it was comfortable enough to hit it full.
"That takes time and the last thing I want to do is have any setbacks.”
Woods admits he's not sure how he will perform this week, but is excited at the possibility of teeing it up pain-free.
“It could be the next step, I just don’t know and that’s tough to live with," he added. "It’s been a struggle for years. To finally come out on the good side of it, it’s exciting. I am stiffer, I’m fused. But I don’t have the pain and if I don’t have the pain, life is so much better.”
As part of his preparation for this week, Woods played a round of golf in the company of US President Donald Trump, World No 1 Dustin Johnson and eight-time PGA Tour winner Brad Faxon on Friday.
“[Johnson is] the No.1 player in the world. He’s been playing, I haven’t been playing,” Woods added. “It’s nice to compare my game to some of the other guys, like Dustin or Rickie [Fowler] or Rory [McIlroy].
"It’s nice to do something like that and compete and have a couple little denominations [a bet] we’re playing for. I like seeing where I’m at.”
Comments
Latest
-
FeaturesGolf365 Recall: Koepka and Fleetwood – US Open 1-2 linked by history
US Open champion Brooks Koepka and runner-up Tommy Fleetwood share more than just recent success, as Matt Cooper reveals.
-
NewsFleetwood brimming with confidence after US Open performance
Tommy Fleetwood didn’t win the US Open on Sunday, but his final-round 63 has left him positive he was what it takes to win a major in the future.
-
US OpenKoepka: I always feel like I’m overlooked
He may not be the talk of the tour like Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth or Justin Thomas, but Brooks Koepka doesn’t seem to mind.
-
US OpenCourageous Koepka retains US Open title
Brooks Koepka became the first man to retain the US Open for almost 30 years at Shinnecock Hills on Sunday
-
LPGA TourSo Yeon Ryu takes the honours at Meijer Classic
South Korea’s So Yeon Ryu claimed the Meijer LPGA Classic in Michigan on Sunday, carding a five-under 67 for a two-stroke win
-
CoursesLa Manga Club adds junior golf and tennis academy for summer
La Manga Club has launched a new sporting academy this summer for youngsters, combining tennis and golf in one week-long academy.
-
CoursesPraia D’el Rey’s remodelling reveals rooms with a new view
The beachside Praia D’el Rey Marriott Resort has got a new look after its rooms were remodelled to the tune of nearly €1m.
-
CoursesPont Royal welcomes international media
Golf and travel journalists from across Europe have visited Golf International Pont Royal as the resort showcased its Challenge Tour venue.
-
US OpenUSGA admits fault for Saturday’s US Open ‘carnage’
The USGA admitted it was at fault on Saturday after several players blasted the US Open course set up at Shinnecock Hills.
-
US OpenDustin Johnson still confident of lifting US Open title
Dustin Johnson still believes he is in a strong position to win the US Open, despite seeing his four-shot advantage wiped out.