It was undoubtedly one of the most important news of the year. With all due respect to McIlroy, Johnson, Day and company, as well as to the Ryder Cup and the four majors, the most awaited date in the agenda of many golf fans was the return of Tiger Woods to competition.
The player himself announced in September that he expected to be back on the PGA Tour at the Safeway Open being played this week (it is the opening tournament of the 2016-17 season), which would have been his first reappearance at a Tour event since the 2015 Wyndham Championship 14 months ago.
However, on Monday he withdrew, announcing in a statement that “after much thought and honest reflection, I know I am not yet ready to play on the PGA Tour or compete in Turkey (Turkish Airlines Open on the European Tour in November). My health is good and I feel strong, but my game is vulnerable and not at the level that needs to be at. It’s not my level, and I don’t think it would be desirable for the public.”
“When I announced last week that I was going to Safeway, I had every intention of playing, otherwise I would not have committed. Unfortunately, however, lately my practice has been limited. I spent a week with the U.S. Ryder Cup team, an experience and honor I wouldn’t trade for anything. I practiced this past weekend at Stanford, but after many hours I knew I was not ready to compete against the best golfers in the world. I will continue to work hard, and plan to play in my Foundation’s event, the Hero World Challenge, in Albany. “I know this is disappointing, but there is no one more disappointed than me. I always want you to be proud of our association, so that’s why I’m going to keep fighting to be able to play in a golf tournament. I’m very close, taking my game from the series to the course is the final hurdle, and with your support, I know I’m going to get there.”
Woods’ last Tour victory was in 2013 at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational. It was his fifth win that season, but since then he has made just 23 starts on Tour, suffering from back problems and undergoing microdiscectomy surgery. He spent the 2015-16 season rehabbing and then working on his game. In missing that entire season, he didn’t play in any of the four majors for the first time in his career, and still remains four short of matching Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major professional victories.
Spaniard Tests Potential Senior Waters
Meanwhile, the good news is that José María Olazábal – who has also suffered from severe, almost career-ending injuries over the years, is returning to the European Tour in this week’s British Masters.
The dual US Masters champion and 23-time European Tour winner will make his first appearance in more than 18 months at The Grove, then plans to also tee up in the Portugal Masters.
Olazábal, who is now eligible for the Senior Tour after turning 50 in February, said, “I am very excited to compete again. I want to see how the body can cope with the regular competition rhythm of practice and 18 holes. The two weeks at the British Masters and Portugal Masters will be a good test to see if I can stand up all day. I want to see how it goes during the two weeks, and that will help me to take a decision on whether I will keep on playing the European Tour or the senior circuit next season.
“The problem is due to an inflammation of the extremities of the tendons, and it’s been a long process of recovery. I hit rock bottom last December and started improving slowly from January. Although I’m feeling better, I’m still not at 100 per cent. The pain is not so bad now, it gets a bit painful from time to time but I think that’s just getting old!”
Leave a Reply