Tiger Woods has offered a somewhat downbeat update on his return to professional golf, 12 months on from his high-speed car accident in Los Angeles.
The golfing great suffered life changing injuries last February, including open fractures affecting the upper and lower parts of the tibia and fibula bones which required immediate surgery.
The crash ensured that Woods was required to go through a long and gruelling rehabilitation process in order to recover, which he continues to go through.
Despite the rehab the 15-time major champion is back on the PGA Tour this week, but sadly not part of the playing field as he hosts the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club.
Coincidentally Woods finds himself back at the same event in which he last made a Tour appearance after hosting the 2021 edition, only to end up in the accident one day later.
Golf fans around the world would have been smiling at seeing the 82-time PGA Tour winner back on their TV screens after he addressed the media at this week’s event, eagerly waiting to hear an update on his playing status.
Despite this some may have been left disappointed, after he admitted he is still unsure when he will be back competing.
He said: “I wish I could tell you when I'm playing again. I want to know but I don't.
“My golf activity has been very limited. I can chip and putt really well, hit short irons really well but haven't done any really long stuff seriously.
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"I'm still working on the walking part. It takes time. What's frustrating is not (being) at my timetable. I want to be at a certain place but I'm not. I'm getting better, yes, but not at the speed and rate that I would like.”
Whilst he revealed he is frustrated with his continued rehabilitation, the golfing great did confirm that he was continuing to make progress, however it wasn’t enough to be able to play on the competitive stage just yet.
He added: “I have seen progress, I am a lot stronger than I was. I can play weekend warrior golf, that's easy, but to be able to be out here and play six rounds of golf - practice round, pro-am, four competitive days - I'm not able to do that yet.
"I can walk on a treadmill all day, that's easy, there's no bumps in the road. But walking on a golf course where there's undulations... I have a long way to go.
"My leg was not in a very good position about a year ago and I've had to work through a lot of different operations and a lot of different scenarios and it's been tough, but I've gotten here and I still have a long way to go.
"Each and every day is a fight and I welcome that fight. Get up in the morning and let's go a few more rounds."
Many had hoped that Woods would make his return at this year’s Masters tournament in April, however Augusta’s gruelling walk could make this a little tricky.
The five-time Masters winner did admit that he would be fit enough to make an appearance at the event’s par three contest, the day before the event.
He said: “I can do that now. Whether I do that or not, I don't know."
