Tiger Woods offers first public comments since latest back surgery amid growing concern over golf return

Tiger Woods' pursuit of an elusive 16th large title could resume 1 day, but it remains unclear erstwhile that volition really happen.

Woods' 15 large victories fertile 2nd connected the all-time majors wins list, trailing lone Jack Nicklaus. But Woods' storied vocation has been derailed by a agelong database of injuries and consequent surgeries. In much caller years, backmost issues person plagued the play icon. Earlier this fall, Woods underwent a seventh process to code his back.

In his archetypal nationalist comments since the procedure, Woods shared his hopes astir yet returning. The five-time Masters Tournament victor besides cautioned that determination is nary timetable successful spot for a imaginable comeback.

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Tiger Woods of Jupiter Links Golf Club waves to fans arsenic helium is introduced astatine the commencement of a lucifer of the TMRW Golf League against Boston Common Golf Jan. 27, 2025, successful Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

"I conscionable started this process," Woods said astatine a pre-tournament quality league astatine the Hero World Challenge. "A disc replacement takes time. It's longer — it's not arsenic agelong arsenic a fusion, convey god, but it's going to instrumentality time."

Woods' backmost troubles archetypal surfaced successful 2014. October's country marked the 2nd backmost process for Woods successful a astir 12-month span.

CHARLIE WOODS, TIGER WOODS' SON, NAILS HOLE-IN-ONE AT TPC SAWGRASS JUNIOR PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT

Aside from his backmost troubles, Woods besides ruptured an Achilles tendon earlier this year. 

Despite the uncertainty swirling astir his playing future, Woods did uncover that helium was precocious cleared to spot and putt. The adjacent measurement successful his betterment involves rebuilding his strength.

Tiger Woods plays his changeable from the 13th tee during the 2nd circular of The Players Championship connected the Stadium Course astatine TPC Sawgrass May 11, 2018, successful Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Woods, 49, volition beryllium eligible to vie successful PGA Tour Champions opening successful 2026. Tournaments connected that circuit diagnostic 3 rounds and licence the usage of a play cart. 

"I truly haven't gone successful extent of what the docket looks similar connected the Champions Tour but for a fewer tournaments," Woods said. 

Woods is not expected to beryllium acceptable to vie erstwhile the TGL play tees off.

Tiger Woods walks the 2nd spread during a signifier circular anterior to the commencement of the 2018 Masters astatine Augusta National Golf Club connected April 2, 2018, successful Augusta, Ga. (Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Woods said helium is taking a day-by-day approach.

"I'm conscionable looking guardant to conscionable fto maine get backmost to playing again. Let maine bash that, and past I'll benignant of fig retired what the docket is going to be," Woods said. "I'm a ways distant from that portion of it and that benignant of decision, that benignant of committedness level. Unfortunately, I've been done this rehab process before. It's conscionable measurement by step. Once I get a consciousness for practicing, exploding, playing, the betterment process, past I tin measure wherever I'm going to play and however overmuch I'll play."

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Woods has been distant from competitory play since July's The Open Championship. The lone clip helium made the chopped this play was successful April astatine the Masters. He missed the chopped successful the season's 3 remaining majors.

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