TIGER WOODS has given an update on his return to the sport after undergoing back surgery in October.
The 15-time major winner suffered another injury setback
Tiger Woods has given an update on his recovery from back surgery in OctoberCredit: Getty
But he was able to make the journey to the Bahamas to host his annual Hero World Challenge golf tournament, where he opened up on the process of his recovery.
Woods was clearly still in good spirits when asked about a timeline for his return by press on Tuesday.
He initially joked: “I’m probably gonna play 25 events on both tours, and I think that should cover most of the year, right?”
But the 49-year-old got serious when discussing the gruelling road ahead for him, and accepted that it would be a long while before he returns to the fairways.
He continued: “Let me get back to playing again. Let me do that, and then I’ll figure out what the schedule will be.
“I’m a ways away from that part of it and that type of decision and that type of commitment level.
“Unfortunately, I’ve been through this rehab process before as a step-by-step, and then once I get a feel for practicing, exploding, playing and the recovery process, then I can assess where I’m going to play and how much I’ll play.”
Woods also revealed that he is not even cleared to fully swing yet, six weeks after he went under the knife.
Woods last played a PGA event at The Open Championship at Royal Troon in 2014Credit: AP
He added: “I just got cleared last week to chip and putt.
“It’s good. It’s been six weeks last Friday, so, it’s been slow.
“Can’t really do much on a disc replacement. You’ve gotta let it set.
“Now we got the OK to start cranking up in the gym and start strengthening and start doing a little bit more of the rotational component that I hadn’t been able to do in letting the disc kinda set.”
The surgery was the seventh that the legendary golf star has undergone on his back alone.
It was also his third major operation of the last two years, after .
Last week, Woods’ long-time friend Notah Begay III revealed that following his surgeries, the icon’s biggest obstacle to a comeback is simply walking around the course.
That obstacle is a source of frustration for Woods, who has been tipped for a return to the PGA Tour to finally break an iconic record.
He is currently tied for all-time PGA tournament wins on 82, a tally shared by golf legend Sam Snead.
But fans will have to wait a little longer, if such a return ever does materialise.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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