INTERNATIONAL: Tiger Woods does not know when he will return to the PGA Tour following a February car accident that left him in a wheelchair for two months, but said on Tuesday he would love to compete in the British Open next July at St. Andrews. Woods, who was close to having his leg amputated after he lost control of his car in Los Angeles earlier this year, told reporters he was lucky to be alive.
The 45-year-old admitted that both his leg and back hurt just sitting at the new conference but he did not rule out being in the field at the Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland, where he won two of his 15 career major titles.
He says, "As far as playing at the tour level, I don't know when that's going to happen. I'll play around here and there. A little hit and giggle, I can do something like that. The USGA suggest playing forward, I really like that idea now. I don't like that the tees are on back. Let's move it up. To see some of my shots fall out of the sky a lot shorter than they used to is a little eye-opening, but at least I'm able to do it again.
That's something that, for a while there, didn't look I was going to do. I am able to participate in the sport of golf - now to what level, I do not know that. I'll keep you abreast as progress continues to go on. Whether or not I'll be out here, at what level and when"
Woods, who recently posted a video on social media showing him hitting an iron shot, acknowledged he has "a long way to go" in the rehab process but said he enjoyed the challenge.
Fans and supporters who are still hopeful Woods can win again have pointed out that his most recent major title at the 2019 Masters followed several surgeries to his back and knee and personal problems that convinced many his career was over.
But on Tuesday, Woods accepted that the "clock's ticking" on his storied career and said he has "no desire" to resume a full playing schedule.
