Exclusive Interview: Tiger Woods Discusses Hero World Challenge and the Future of Golf

Tiger Woods provided insights during a press conference on Tuesday where he declared that his golf game is “rusty” as he prepares to participate in the upcoming Hero World Challenge. This will be his first tournament since he withdrew from the Masters and underwent ankle surgery. He mentioned, “I’m excited to compete and play, and I’m just as curious as you are to see what happens because I haven’t done it in a while. And I can tell you this: I don’t have any of the pain that I had at Augusta in my ankle. Other parts are taking the brunt of the load, so I’m a little sore in other areas.”

Following severe injuries from a 2021 car crash, Woods has only participated in five tournaments and had surgery to fuse his right ankle. Woods also shared his frustration over being excluded from discussions between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. This was addressed by adding Woods to the PGA Tour’s influential policy board, ensuring that players would have more representation.

The PGA Tour and the PIF have set a Dec. 31 deadline to finalize their agreement, but there is doubt regarding whether it will be achieved. Woods feels that the sport’s future is uncertain and emphasized the need for changes to happen soon. Despite feeling frustrated, he expressed confidence in his ability to compete, adding, “I’m pleased with the process and how it’s evolved but also frustrated in the slowness of the governance change that we want to have happen.”

Woods was optimistic about his future in golf, stating that he believes he could still win. He expressed his love for competing and emphasized a desire to fully appreciate his remaining time in the sport. Regarding his playing schedule for next year, he believes that participating in one tournament per month would be realistic. He will use this week’s tournament as a stepping stone to achieve this goal. Woods’s comeback to the sport after his injury will certainly captivate the golfing world.

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Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller takes readers to the greens with his passion for golf. He offers coverage of major golf tournaments, player achievements, and insights into the sport’s rich history, making him a trusted source for golf enthusiasts.