Tiger Woods, one of the greatest golfers of all time, is facing uncertainty about his future on the golf course. Speaking on Tuesday, Woods admitted he doesn’t have a clear timetable for his return to competitive play as he continues to recover from his sixth back surgery.
Currently hosting the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, Woods is taking on the role of tournament host without participating as a player. “I’m not tournament sharp yet, no. I’m still not there,” Woods said. “These are 20 of the best players in the world and I’m not sharp enough to compete against them at this level. So when I’m ready to compete and play at this level, then I will.”
While he’s away from the greens, Woods is deeply involved in shaping the future of professional golf. He’s serving on the PGA Tour’s policy board and is part of critical negotiations with the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia. The discussions center around PIF potentially becoming a minority investor in PGA Tour Enterprises. “Things are very fluid, we’re still working through it, it’s happening daily,” Woods remarked. “From a policy board standpoint or from an enterprise standpoint, things are moving and they’re constructive.”
The negotiations aim to resolve tensions that have arisen due to the emergence of LIV Golf, a rival league backed by Saudi investors. There’s also talk of the European Tour engaging separately with PIF, which could lead to players from different tours competing across circuits. “We all want to get past this and to do what’s best for the tour,” Woods said. “In the end, we’re going to get a product that’s better for all the fans and all the players involved and get some peace that the game desperately needs.”
As for his own playing career, Woods remains cautious. He’s unsure if he’ll participate in upcoming events like the PNC Championship alongside his son, Charlie—an event he’s played in the past four years. Reflecting on his health, Woods described 2024 as a challenging year due to his ongoing back issues. Despite the setbacks, fans around the world remain hopeful for his return to the sport he has dominated for decades.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
