Tiger Woods has unveiled a plan for the 2024 season, indicating that he may potentially play one tournament per month as part of his return to golf.
He suggested the idea of participating in the Genesis Invitational in February and then finding a tournament for March before the majors commence in April.
During a Tuesday news conference at the Hero World Challenge, a golf tournament he hosts annually in the Bahamas, Woods stated, “I need to get myself ready for all that. I think this week is a step in that direction. I’m just as curious as all of you are to see what happens. I don’t have any of the pain that I had at Augusta or pre that in my ankle.”
Woods had to withdraw from the Masters on April 9 due to plantar fasciitis and subsequently underwent ankle surgery that month. The foot condition also led to his withdrawal from the 2022 Hero World Challenge.
The 15-time majors champion mentioned that while he is now pain-free in his ankle, he is experiencing aches and pains in his knees and back. Nevertheless, he still believes he can win tournaments.
At 47 years old, Woods will tee off for Tuesday’s Hero World Challenge practice round at 11:52 a.m. ET with Justin Thomas. The event begins Nov. 30 and features several PGA stars, including Jordan Spieth, Collin Morikawa, and Scottie Scheffler.
The news conference also addressed the PGA Tour working to secure a deal with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund before the Dec. 31 deadline. Woods assured that both sides are working together with “no animosity.”
Addressing the unrest among PGA Tour players following the framework agreement with the PIF, the tour added Woods as a sixth player seat to the player directors on the PGA Tour policy board in August.
Tiger Woods the board member
Woods expressed uncertainty about the future of professional golf and emphasized the need for players to have more power in the tour’s decision-making process. He also shared his frustration about the framework agreement with the PIF being made without his knowledge.
Why he’s making another comeback
The most significant point from Tuesday’s news conference is that Woods is not experiencing pain. Despite not playing much golf, he confidently believes he can still win events and hopes to play one tournament a month next season.
While he may never achieve the same level of stardom as before, the possibility of remaining healthy and competing on big stages remains for Woods if he can play without pain.
Required reading
(Photo: Patrick Smith / Getty)