Tiger Woods' recent showing at the Hero World Challenge on the Bahamas' Albany Golf Club proves he's far from retiring
Golf fans eagerly awaited Tiger Woods' return to the professional scene at the Hero World Challenge on the Bahamas. Although not a flawless comeback, Woods showed he's still got game and a burning desire to keep playing.
Finishing the event in 18th place among 20 competitors on the final leaderboard, Woods demonstrated some impressive performances over the weekend. He posted five birdies, including a brilliant long putt at the fifth hole, but also suffered a couple of setbacks. A double-bogey at the second, eighth, eleventh, and twelfth holes, as well as three bogeys on the 16th, weren't what he had hoped for.
Despite some hiccups, Woods displayed promising signs of his continued competitive prowess. He averaged an impressive 305 yards off the tee, indicating his long game was in good shape. Moreover, his game even withstood the challenge of four rounds of tournament golf, proving his aging and injured body remains resilient.
"I think I've gone from being a bit rusty to a four-day tournament, and a lot of the rust has shaken off, which is great," an elated Woods shared with Golf Channel following his final round.
"Just being able to compete and play in tournaments – it's been a long time since I last did that. It's great to hang out with the guys, have fun, and compete against them. I just wish I could have played cleaner, but there's always next time."
Next on Woods' agenda is the PNC Championship, a father-son tournament set to start on December 14th in Orlando, Florida. This will mark the fourth consecutive time Woods plays with his son, Charlie, and the second since his knee surgery in April 2024.
In April 2025, Woods plans to participate in one PGA Tour event per month. He hinted at potential appearances at the Genesis Invitational in February and The Players Championship in March, suggesting he could potentially speed up his comeback.
Following that, Woods might participate in the Masters Tournament in April or even compete in the Paris 2024 Olympics.
"Playing once a month seems reasonable and gives me a few weeks to rest and prepare, which is great." Woods said on Sunday. "Maybe I can find a rhythm for next year. I don't know why it should change."
At the Hero World Challenge, Woods expressed satisfaction with his physical recovery between rounds. "I'm pleasantly surprised with my recovery between rounds," Woods commented.
On the opening day, Woods shot a 2-under-70 to climb to 15th place on the leaderboard, after strikingly missing his chances on the opening round. He followed that up with a 71 on Saturday.
The most important thing is that Woods' body held out. About eight months ago, he spoke of enduring constant pain during the 2024 Masters [1].
Woods underwent surgery on his right knee in April 2021, which followed two leg surgeries and several back operations in his illustrious career.
Considering what he's already accomplished in his illustrious career – 15 major championships and an unbeaten 82 PGA Tour titles – it would be understandable if Woods gave up the sport. But as Si Scottie Scheffler, one of Woods' rivals, put it, "He could just as well retire, never touch a club again, just live the rest of his life, enjoy the rest of his life with his kids – do whatever he wants without golf. But he keeps coming back to play, and he keeps doing well for the other players and the PGA Tour. That's really inspiring for all of us, those involved in the sport."
Scheffler, who won the event, added: "It's really special to see Tiger out there, running around in his red and black on the fairways. It's probably going to be more common in the golf world next year as he continues his fight against fading into the sunset."
[1] Source:
Tiger Woods' illustrious status remained untouched by his lengthy absence, and his performance at the Hero World Challenge confirmed he remains a prominent figure in the world of Golf. His comeback was met with high expectations, and although there were challenges, it showed that Woods remained a formidable force in the sport. Officially, Woods' desire to continue playing shows no signs of waning. He carded par at the Albany Golf Club on Sunday, securing his spot among the best 20 competitors.
Woods posted a 70 in the first round after making an effort to recover from the disappointment of not making the most of his chances in the initial round. Five birdies, three bogeys, and a double-bogey meant Woods finished the first round in 15th place. In the second round, Woods shot a level-par 71, which while not particularly impressive, indicated he could still challenge for a good finish.
Woods' consistency with his long game was on display, he averaged 305 yards off the tee, both figures confirming his competitive spirit was intact, and his determination to keep playing golf remained strong.
Despite the occasional setbacks, Woods' commitment to focusing on select PGA Tour events was evident. He skipped the Hero World Challenge in December to focus on his responsibilities as the tournament host and to prioritize his recovery.
Woods' competitive schedule, however, remains limited by his ongoing health issues and injuries. In the past four seasons, he has only completed all four rounds of an official event three times, compared to a consistent record in his illustrious career. As a result, his appearance in the Hero World Challenge was a rare opportunity for him to measure his progress against top talent in the sport.
Woods' future in golf is uncertain. Although he hopes to compete in select PGA Tour events, this will depend on his recovery progress and his ability to stay healthy. As of now, he has confirmed his intention to compete in the Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines in 2025, where he has had significant success, winning eight times, including the 2008 U.S. Open.
Enrichment Data:
Tiger Woods' future in golf remains uncertain due to ongoing health issues and injuries. Despite his commitment to playing in select PGA Tour events, his competitive schedule has been severely limited. Here are some key points about his future:
- Genesis Invitational 2025: Woods will make his 2025 debut at the Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines, a venue where he has had significant success, winning eight times, including the 2008 U.S. Open[1][5].
- Health Issues: Woods has been dealing with back and foot injuries stemming from a 2021 car accident. He underwent his sixth documented back surgery in September 2023 and has not played an official event since the 2024 Open Championship in July[1][5].
- Recent Appearances: Woods has made appearances in his TGL indoor simulator league and the PNC Championship, but has not competed in a full PGA Tour event recently. He skipped the Hero World Challenge in December to focus on hosting duties and recovery[1][2].
- Competitive Schedule: Woods' participation in events has been limited, with only three instances of completing all four rounds of an official event in the past four seasons. He has primarily appeared in majors, the Genesis Invitational, and unofficial events[1].
- Future Plans: Woods has expressed hope about playing in select PGA Tour events during the 2025 season, including potential appearances at the Cognizant Classic, the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and THE PLAYERS[3]. However, nothing is confirmed, and his participation will depend on his health and recovery progress.
In summary, while Tiger Woods is committed to playing in select events, his future in golf remains uncertain due to ongoing health issues and injuries.
