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Tiger Woods admits he has ‘reconciled’ himself to the possibility of hanging

Tiger Woods has admitted he has prepared himself for the possibility of having to retire as he struggles to recover from his third back operation in 19 months.

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Rocco Mediate is confident he could get Tiger Woods back to fitness and back to winning ways, despite the former world number one saying he has no timetable for a return to the course.

But three weeks later, Woods had a second microdiscectomy surgery to alleviate pressure on a disc in his lower back.

“It’s more important for me to be with my kids”. “Neither does my surgeon or my physio”, he said.

The legendary 39-year-old has revealed he has accepted the thought that he may have to retire from a sport that sees him stand as the most successful competitor of all time.

“I’m grinding my butt off and I said, ‘OK, you’re the No. 1 player in the world and you just lost eight balls on a home course that you could play blindfolded, ‘ and I shot a 54”.

Mark Roe believes Tiger Woods would be a great choice as USA Vice-Captain at the next Ryder Cup. It is different. (But) I was on the flip side of it for many years. “And I walk and I walk some more. I’d rather have it come from me, and I can tell them absolutely everything”.

When asked about the prospect of retiring in the near future, Woods told Time: “Put it this way”.

“Having the relationship that I have now with her is fantastic”, Woods told Time Magazine. But if it does, it does. But I am hoping that’s not it. I am hoping I can get back out here and compete against these guys. That’s how I want it to be, and that’s how I am. Without a doubt I do not.

“I want him back healthy and I want him playing again”.

Big Cat spoke to the media at the Hero World Challenge on Tuesday in what was one of the most somber press conferences I’ve ever seen from him. If I can only do one it wouldn’t be golf. That’s still a win-win. To watch my kids play sports and to grow up and participate and even teach them how to become better, oh my God, it gives me so much joy. “I think we can all read between the lines there, that he’s – I think he’s still got some really good years left out of him”, said Spieth. That to me is special. “Now I know what my dad felt like when we’d go out there and play nine holes in the dark”. Woods said. “I don’t know”.

Tiger talked to Peyton Manning about nerve problems in their necksAnyone I’ve ever talked to who has had procedures like I’ve had, they say the same thing: you don’t know.

“As long as I don’t have pain I don’t think there’ll be an issue”.

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“We think it changes the culture a little bit”, Finchem said. “I just need reps” and “my glutes aren’t firing” are examples of Tiger-speak. He just never let it out; never allowed his feelings to be exposed or his guard to be dropped. No more surgeries. Seven is enough.

Tiger Woods