Tiger Woods of The US performs his tee shot on the 18th gap in the course of the ultimate spherical of the PNC Championship at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Membership on December 17, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. (Picture by David Cannon/Getty Photographs)
Tiger Woods says he has been inspired by his efficiency in two December occasions, the primary aggressive golf for the 15-time main winner since April ankle surgical procedure.
Woods, who turns 48 later this month, had not performed for the reason that Masters eight months in the past earlier than inserting 18th of 20 within the Hero World Problem two weeks in the past.
“Plenty of issues are aching much more than my ankle, which is the best way it goes,” Woods mentioned. “I’ll have the ability to stroll and play. We’ve been figuring out onerous, been capable of recuperate.”
On Sunday, he and 14-year-old son Charlie Woods mixed to shoot 61 and seize a share of fifth on the PNC Championship in Orlando, Florida.
They completed on 19-under 125 within the parent-child pairs occasion to face six strokes adrift of German winner Bernhard Langer and his son Jason.
Woods had struggled to stroll 4 rounds after extreme leg accidents suffered in a 2021 automobile crash however has mentioned he plans to compete as soon as a month subsequent 12 months because of a powerful health restoration.
“We’ve been coaching on daily basis, which is nice,” Woods mentioned. “It has been good to knock off numerous the rust and a few of the doubt I’ve had as a result of fairly frankly I haven’t hit a shot that counted in a very long time.
“So having to publish a rating and hit pictures on the appropriate quantity, hit pictures with consequence, it has been good.”
Woods says his surgically repaired proper ankle, which as soon as had him limping by means of rounds at majors, is now not such a problem.
“The ankle was high-quality as a result of it’s now fused however different components had been positively aching,” Woods mentioned. “The actual fact we had been capable of practice instantly and get after it, and begin hitting balls, it was encouraging.”
Woods is just not exempt for subsequent 12 months’s US Open, however the three-time US Open champion would doubtless obtain an exemption.
“As of proper now, no, I’m not in,” Woods mentioned. “Whether or not or not I’ve to formally ask them or they invite me or give me an exemption or I’ve to go qualify, who is aware of? I don’t know what the method is.”
Woods mentioned his comeback occasions have boosted his confidence that he can nonetheless strike the golf ball competitively with the world’s finest.
“If I’m capable of observe and do the issues I do know I can do, and put together, I do know I can nonetheless do it,” Woods mentioned.
“I can nonetheless hit the golf ball. It’s only a matter of prepping and get sufficient reps in and get sufficient work in and being proper bodily, and endurance functionality of it.
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“I haven’t had the leg ok the place I’ve been capable of compete and play numerous rounds.”