Tiger Woods is back on the scene! Can he add an 83rd title? If not, I’m not here, he said

The eyes of golf fans are already on one man who has become an icon of the sport over the last 20 years. After dozens of surgeries, a horrific car accident and months of painful recovery, Tiger Woods is at Riviera CC in Los Angeles to play professional golf again. But can his worn-out body and mind ever achieve further success?

There are many questions that remain unanswered in connection with Woods. And some will likely continue to be. The most crucial one from a fan’s point of view is whether the forty-six-year-old former phenomenal golfer can still compete with the young and fresh world elite.

In recent summers, Tiger has been written about in the media more off the course than on it. Today, we can be somewhat certain that seeing the former world number one on the course will be more of a feast. Despite a pile of health problems, however, Woods is not giving up for good.

He currently has 82 titles to his name, equalling Sam Snead’s record. Any more wins will put him at the top of this list for a hell of a long time (maybe forever).

Tiger himself, however, has no idea for sure if he can even make it around an 18-hole course four days in a row. The last time he didn’t finish a Hero World Challenge tournament played in December, due to plantar fasciitis. In great pain, he was unable to stand on his feet and devote himself to the game. So he has been trying to increase his workload gradually over the last few weeks, which now makes him feel some optimism.

“It’sgotten a lot better over the last couple of months, and I’m excited to go out there and compete and play with the other guys,” Woods said enthusiastically at a press conference with golf.com before the Genesis Invitational. He expects a better partnership than last year. But will it be enough?

The data speaks as follows

He made two of the three cuts at the majors in 2022, but hasn’t made the top 20 in more than three years. Plus, he withdrew last year during the PGA Championship in Tulsa. As for the game itself, that’s where Woods remains confident. His ball speed and accuracy is good, and he has determination too. The question is what his body will allow him to do.

“Iwouldn’t be here if I didn’t think I could beat the others and win the tournament,” he said confidently. “That’s my mentality,” he added.

He used that mentality when asked if he thought he could play 50 Masters tournaments in the future, like legends like Arnold Palmer and Gary Player before him. “I’m not going to play that many, I’m sorry,” he added convincingly.

“Idon’t think I should be somewhere I don’t think I can win. I know some players have played it out. They’re ambassadors for the game and they’re trying to grow golf. But I can’t accept that as a competitor. If I play in the tournament, I will try to beat you,” he said clearly and convincingly.

He acknowledged that there will come a point when his body will not allow him to compete. “Probably sooner rather than later,” he added. But then what?

“It’s not in my DNA,” he concluded.

The editor of golf.com wrote: “We won’t get an exact answer this week, but we’ll get another data point.” That’s the sentence that’s probably most accurate when it comes to Tiger Woods’ future. The Riviera has one more motivation for him, however, as he once started his professional career here at the age of 16.

Source: PGA Tour, golf.com