Tiger Woods returns from a seven-month harm absence this week amid loads of uncertainty, however his objective on the Genesis Invitational stays clear: to win.
“I’d not have put myself out right here if I didn’t suppose I might beat these guys and win the occasion,” the 15-time main champion stated Tuesday as he ready to tee it up at Riviera Nation Membership.
“That’s my mentality.”
Woods hosts the match for the good thing about his charitable basis, however it wasn’t till Friday that he confirmed he would truly make his first tour-level begin because the British Open in July.
Since then, he has continued his restoration from the extreme leg accidents he suffered in a February 2021 automotive crash, his greatest drawback now the “intricate little stability” of constructing stamina in his broken ankle in order that he can stroll 72 holes for 4 straight days.
“I can nonetheless hit photographs, however it’s the strolling endurance that’s onerous,” Woods stated. “That’s one thing that we’ve needed to work on, strolling distances on the seashore, simply principally stress it out but additionally have the ability to get better by the subsequent day and see how it’s inflammation-wise after which maintain practising.
“I’ll have overdone it a pair occasions right here or there, however right here I’m,” he stated.
After a number of surgical procedures within the wake of his accident, Woods made a surprising comeback on the 2022 Masters, ending in forty seventh place. He withdrew from the PGA Championship in Might after 54 holes, and missed the lower on the Open Championship at St. Andrews.
A deliberate return on the unofficial Hero World Problem in December was known as off due to plantar fasciitis in his proper foot.
He did play two low-key December exhibition tournaments — each permitting the usage of carts — however 4 match rounds pose a strikingly totally different problem.
“I’m very rusty, however I’ve come off a rusty scenario earlier than (and) I’ve achieved nicely,” stated Woods, who has notably come again from knee and again accidents in his profession.
“Plus, I do know this golf course,” he added. “I do know I haven’t had a number of success on this golf course, however I knew what to observe for, photographs to hit at dwelling preparing.”
Woods has an extended historical past at Riviera, the picturesque course in Pacific Palisades west of downtown Los Angeles that he first visited as a toddler.
He made his PGA Tour debut at Riviera in 1992 as a 16-year-old excessive schooler taking part in on a sponsor’s exemption.
He missed the lower — and Riviera stays the course he’s performed most with out a match victory, with a runner-up end in 1999 his finest lead to 13 match begins.
Sport so as
Riviera options some daunting terrain, with a steep hike down from the primary tee and one other climb up a set of rustic railroad-tie stairs from the 18th inexperienced to the clubhouse.
“Perhaps signing for one thing within the mid-60s will get him up that hill fairly fast,” prompt former world primary Justin Rose, who was impressed by what he noticed of Woods’s sport within the American’s temporary outings in December.
“When it comes to the essential a part of are you able to hit a golf ball, are you able to get a ball within the gap, all of that appeared to be actually so as,” stated Rose, who ended a four-year title drought on the Pebble Seashore Professional-Am this month.
Woods headlines a stellar area for the third of the US tour’s new “designated occasions” designed to showcase and reward the sport’s high gamers.
Nineteen of the world’s high 20 gamers will tee it up competing for a tournament-record $20 million purse.
Scottie Scheffler, who regained the world primary rating together with his Phoenix Open victory final week, could possibly be supplanted both by Northern Eire’s Rory McIlroy or Spain’s Jon Rahm — each of whom have top-flight victories this yr.
So Woods shall be testing himself towards a top quality area in what he acknowledges shall be one among only a few begins this yr. He has stated he hopes to play the key championships and “perhaps one or two extra” occasions.
“Would I wish to play extra? Sure,” Woods stated Tuesday. “Will (accidents) permit me to? I don’t know. I’ve to be real looking about that.”
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