Tiger Woods hasn’t exactly playing a brand of golf we grew accustomed to seeing, but the once-longtime world No. 1 appears to have no plans of leaving anytime soon.
According to ESPN’s Bob Harig, Woods cited his love of the game and of competition as reasons he’s still around. Woods said:
“I know some of you guys think I’m buried and done, but I’m still right here in front of you. I love playing. I play competing, and I love playing these events.”
Woods continued, joking about retirement and noting his injury recovery stage:
“Well, retirement? I don’t have any AARP card yet, so I’m a ways from that. I feel like my body is finally healed up from the [lower-back disk] surgery from last year. They say it takes you about four to six months to get back, but I’ve heard a lot of guys on tour who have the surgery and other athletes who say it takes over a year to get back.”
The Open Championship begins early Thursday morning in Scotland, and Woods is paired with Louis Oosthuizen and Hideki Matsuyama for the opening rounds at the legendary St. Andrews Old Course.
Woods is seeking his first Major tournament win since 2008 and first victory at The Open Championship since 2006.
Considering the way Woods has shot lately, it seems unlikely he’ll make noise during the British. However, golf is better when Tiger is excelling. Hopefully, Woods will find his swing and return to regularly competing for a tournament victory—not simply battling to make it through the weekend.
Photo: USA Today Sports