By Julio Cesar Valdera MoralesShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberTiger Woods is back in the spotlight thanks to a golf-related event, but sadly not as a player. This weekend, he is hosting the Hero World Challenge, so he is in Albany, Bahamas, to give a hand in the organizational side of the tournament.
This is the first time the 15-time major champion has appeared in public since his most recent back surgery. Naturally, the topic took center stage at the press conference he gave at the event venue.
Specifically, Woods spoke about his return to competitive golf, shattering the hopes of fans who were looking forward to seeing him back on the courses soon.
"I'm just looking forward to ... just let me get back to playing again, let me do that, and then I'll, kind of, figure out what the schedule is going to be," he told reporters. "I'm a ways away from that part of it and that type of decision, that type of commitment level. Unfortunately, I've been through this rehab process before; it's just step by step. Once I get a feel for practicing, exploding, playing, the recovery process, then I can assess where I'm going to play and how much I'll play."
...Woods' comments covered the PGA Tour and also the Champions Tour, in which he will be eligible to play once he turns 50 on December 30. The legendary player did not rule out participating in Senior events, but did not indicate when that might happen.
What Woods did do was give a brief update on the current stage of his recovery. Fortunately, the medical team has already allowed him to pick up his clubs again, even if it is only in small steps.
"I just got cleared last week to chip and putt, so it's good," he said. "I spent ... it's been six weeks last Friday. It's been slow. Not able to do much on a disc replacement to let it set. Can't really do much. Now we got the OK to start cranking up a little bit in the gym, started strengthening and started doing a little bit more of the rotational component that I haven't been able to do. Just letting the disc kind of set."
Woods has been out of competitive golf since December 2024, when he finished second in the PNC Championship, teaming up with his son Charlie. Tiger's last official event was The Open Championship, played in July 2024.
He was expected to play more this year, but a ruptured Achilles tendon ended his season in March. In October, he had to undergo surgery again, this time for a lumbar disc replacement, with no end date yet in sight for his recovery.
However, there is light at the end of the tunnel for those who want to see him play. During the aforementioned press conference, Woods hinted that he might be able to play in the final matches of the upcoming TGL season, which begins at the end of December and ends in March 2026.
Let's hope so.
More Golf: Tiger Woods’ Friend Delivers 5-Word Update on His Form
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