The 15-time PGA major champion has announced that he will not participate in this week’s Hero World Challenge, which he hosts in the Bahamas. Woods mentioned that he does not feel as sharp as he needs to be following his procedure and recognizes that he still has a long way to go before he can compete effectively with the world’s best golfers.
‘I’m still not there. And these are 20 of the best players in the world, and I’m not sharp enough to compete against them at this level,’ Woods said. ‘When I’m ready to compete and play at this level, then I will.’
Woods last competed in The Open Championship in July 2024 and did not specify a timeline for his recovery. He made it clear that, despite undergoing what is believed to be his sixth back surgery, his strong desire to compete for another title continues to motivate him during his recovery.
Woods’ focus is on taking it slow and putting his health first, stating, ‘I don’t want to have any setbacks. Just want to keep making progress and give myself the best chance going to next year as possible. I feel like I’m getting stronger, I’m getting more pliable, but I got a long way to go to be able to compete against these guys.’
Woods’ back surgery in September 2024
Tiger Woods announced that he underwent back surgery in September, his sixth following a car wreck in 2021 that severely injured his right leg and foot.
The PGA stated that Woods underwent microdecompression surgery on his lumbar spine to relieve nerve impingement in his lower back, aiming to reduce the pain and spasms he experienced.
