PACIFIC PALISADES (Calif.) – Tiger Woods has not yet decided to become a ceremonial golfer. This week, he’s going to play at the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Club.
Woods stated Tuesday that he would not have placed himself out there if he didn’t believe he could beat these guys to win the event. “That’s how I think.”
Woods will be playing in his first official PGA Tour tournament since he was unable to make the cut at July’s British Open. Woods withdrew from the Hero World Challenge on November 28 due to plantar fasciitis. He participated in The Match, an exhibition of 12 holes, and the PNC Championship (a 36-hole team event for two people) with his son. He was permitted to use a cart on both occasions. This is something he will not be able use this week as he takes on one of the more difficult walks in golf. Woods declared on Friday that he was ready for “an actual PGA Tour Tournament”. Max Homa, a fellow pro, laughed that players would be taking turns leading him down the steep hill to No.1 and back to the clubhouse.
Homa stated, “Which no-one would mind,” “It’s awesome. It’s great to have him back. We are privileged to have him play now, I believe.”
Thursday tee times
James Hahn, a former Riviera winner, echoed this sentiment.
Hahn stated, “We all talk about the next guy, I don’t think anyone compares.” We’ll all be humbled when we see him at Riviera. And we’ll realize that there can only one ‘Chosen One.’ He’s the Chosen One. Tiger is the star I am most impressed by. It’s different.”
Woods stated that it had always been his intention to play at this tournament, where he serves as the host and his foundation the primary beneficiary. Woods was injured in a single car accident just one day after the tournament ended in 2021. It has been a long process to get back to play.
He said, “Whether or not the body would listen to my or not was the main issue.” “I could do Ranger Rick, so that I can hit golf balls, and all that stuff. It’s a matter of endurance in my leg. We’ve been pushing it pretty hard and being able do recovery every day which is great. So I’m excited to be able compete and play at Riviera, where it all began.
Woods, 47 years old, made his PGA Tour debut in 1992 as a 16 year-old amateur at this tournament. Woods said that his plantar fasciitis was better than a year ago and that his leg, which was damaged in the crash, is now much stronger.
He said, “It’s more about my ankle, whether or not I can recover from daily to day.” It’s been a delicate balance that we have had to find. It’s been improving over the past couple of months.
Woods said that he had walked long distances on the Florida beach and moved from hitting balls every day to working on his short game at work to playing a few holes at his local club before moving to nine and finally to 18. Woods confirmed that he has not played four rounds in four days. He will have to play this week if he is able to survive Friday’s 36-hole cut. Woods stated that he stressed his ankle daily and then watched the inflammation to see how it responded.
He said, “I might have overdoned it a few times here and there, but here i am.” It’s been amazing to get to this point. After the event, we’ll review it and determine what needs to be done to prepare for Augusta.
Woods responded emphatically to a question about his gratitude for being able to play. He had previously undergone surgery on his knees, but in April 2017, he was having spinal-back fusion surgery when he realized his mortality in the game.
Woods stated that there comes a time when a few of my NFL friends become afraid of getting hit. “Well, I wasn’t going to hit certain shots when I had my back because I might end up on the floor, so that was difficult.”
Woods, who has won 15 majors in his 82 Tour titles, stated that he is determined to end the three-year drought of winless which began with the 2019 Zozo Championship. Woods is aware that there will come a point when he won’t be able add to his win count – and he acknowledged that this time will come sooner than he expected – but his competitive spirit will not allow him to stop there yet.
He said, “That’s not my DNA.” “I play to win if I’m playing. I am aware that players have played, and they are ambassadors for the game. It’s impossible for me to think clearly. I don’t understand how a competitor can do that. If I’m participating in the event, I’m going try to beat you. Okay? I don’t get why making the cut is a good thing. It’s always my goal to win the event if I enter it.”
By: Adam Schupak
Title: 'If I'm playing, I play to win': Tiger Woods looking to hoist trophy for first time at 2023 Genesis Invitational
Sourced From: golfweek.usatoday.com/2023/02/14/pga-tour-tiger-woods-news-2023-genesis-invitational/
Published Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2023 21:00:25 +0000
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