Tiger Woods' sad admission about return to professional golf

Tigers Woods has cut a forlorn figure after admitting that his return to professional golf is progressing slower than he'd hoped.

The 15-time major winner confirmed last year that he was intent on playing tour events but said the injuries sustained from a horrific 2021 car crash meant he'd never return to the PGA Tour on a full-time basis.

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The 46-year-old required surgery on open fractures to his lower right leg and further injuries to his foot and ankle after the single-vehicle accident last February, and said at one point he feared his leg could be amputated.

Needless to say the golfing world erupted in celebration when Woods made a triumphant return to action in December, with he and 12-year-old son Charlie coming second in the PNC Championship.

Tiger and Charlie reeled off a tournament-record 11 straight birdies to card a final round 57, finishing two shots behind winners John Daly and his son John Daly Jr.

However, any excitement that Woods' return to professional golf has been tempered by his latest comments, with the 46-year-old admitting his recovery is behind schedule.

"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 ahead of the PGA Tour's Genesis Invitational at Riviera in Los Angeles, 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."

Woods revealed a telling truth about the effects of his high-speed crash that saw his car smash into a median, roll over and end up on its side near a steep road known for crashes.

"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," he added.

"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."

Tiger Woods rules out full-time return

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

"I can do that now," he added. "Whether I do that or not, I don't know."

While the 46-year-old completed a miraculous recovery from back surgery to win his 15th major title at the Masters in 2019, Woods has consistently talked down the possibility of a repeat.

"I don't have to compete and play against the best players in the world to have a great life," Woods told Golf Digest last year.

"After my back fusion, I had to climb Mount 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 Mount Everest and that's OK.

"I can still participate in the game of golf. I can still, if my leg gets OK, 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.

"I think something that is realistic is playing the tour one day - never full-time, ever again... Pick and choose a few events a year and play around that."

with AAP

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