Nothing lasts forever, man. Especially not in sports. But, with that being said, it’s hard to picture the game of golf without including Tiger Woods in it.
That time is coming and it’s coming fast. At least, according to Woods himself.
Masters Leaderboard: Live leaderboard, Schedule, Tee times
In a press conference ahead of the 2023 Masters, Woods talked about where he was physically heading into the tournament. He was also asked whether he thinks about when each appearance could potentially be his last on the tour.
What followed that was an extremely open and honest admission from Woods — he knows his time in the golf world will be up soon. And he’s cherishing the moments and opportunities he has now more because of it.
Here’s what he had to say.
Tiger is honest about his run at the Masters
Woods was asked straight up if he thinks about whether this could potentially be his last appearance at the Masters.
The answer was yes, yes he does.
“I don’t know how many more I have in me.”@TigerWoods is soaking in every moment at #TheMasters pic.twitter.com/e4W17X7ZDl
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 4, 2023
“Last year was kind of a…I didn’t know if I was going to play again at that time. For some reason, everything kind of came together. I kind of pushed a little bit, I was able to make the cut, which was nice. Yeah, I don’t know how many more I have in me. So, just to be able to appreciate the time that i have here and cherish the memories.”
That’s a sobering admission. But it’s one any golf fan can appreciate.
On where he's at physically
Woods spoke about where he’s at physically with his leg injury that he suffered in that terrifying car accident a few years ago.
He said he’s playing better now, but his pain is worse.
Interesting / worrying to hear the pain is actually worse for Tiger than it was 12 months ago pic.twitter.com/CLxejqYYOz
— Sam Harrop (@sam_golf) April 4, 2023
“I think that my game is better than it was last year at this particular time. My endurance is better. But it aches a little bit more than it did last year. Just because, at that particular time when I came back, I really hadn’t pushed it that often. And I had this little window when I did push it and I came back. Fast forward, I didn’t play a whole lot afterward. I took a little bit to recover from the event…I just have to be cognizant of how much I can push.”
That’s definitely a bit concerning and it shows exactly why Woods is talking the way he is. The pain isn’t getting any better, even if Woods is physically. And that will always be a limiting factor here.
He’s still grateful to be able to play, though. This quote was particularly encouraging.
Tiger Woods on his lack of mobility since his car accident: "Mobility is not where I would like it. I’m very lucky to have a leg. Yes, it has been altered and there’s some hardware in there, but it’s mine." #Masters2023
— Pete Dougherty (@Pete_Dougherty) April 4, 2023
Hopefully, as Tiger continues on, things get better. We’ll see.
Should we be worried about Tiger?
I mean, sure. But the bottom line here is this: This isn’t the Tiger Woods we all grew up watching. He’s 47 years old. He’s pushing himself to his limits to get to the point that he’s at, but there’s probably not much more he can do.
When he last won the Masters in 2019 it was a spectacular moment. It was special. Something none of us will ever forget. Then the accident happens. And, now, he’s probably not even at the level he was in 2019.
That’s OK, though. Because he had that moment. We’ve also had his entire career to watch his greatness. Through the ups and the downs, Woods has been the greatest golfer we’ve ever seen. And we’ll never forget it.
So, just like Tiger, let’s all sit back and appreciate the time we have left with him on the course. Because it’s still a treat to watch.
