Woods posted on his website Wednesday that he intends to return to competitive golf, starting with the Safeway Open on October 13-16 at Napa’s Silverado Resort.
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Woods has however admitted that he still has “work to do”, as he bids to complete his rehabilitation after a year out.
Woods announced that he intends to tee up in the Safeway Open after more than a year out of action following back surgery, and the news was warmly received by McIlroy. “I certainly am. There’s nothing more exciting than watching Tiger Woods play golf at his very best”.
“My hope is to have my game ready to go”, said former world number one Woods.
The last time Woods played in a PGA Tour event was August of 2015, at the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, N.C. He shot 70 in the final round and tied for 10th.
The 14-time major victor had entered those events as a matter of routine but said his physical condition was not ready for the rigours of tournament golf.
Jack Nicklaus tweeted to Woods that “it’s great to see you back to see you back and in good health”. You’ve done so much for the game and it’s better with you playing.
The Safeway Open, the season-opening event on the 2016-17 PGA Tour, will be played from October 13-16 at Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa.
The Hero World Challenge, to be played December 1-4 in the Bahamas, is an 18-player event that invites players based on the world rankings and major championships.
“It was hard missing tournaments that are important to me, but this time I was smart about my recovery and didn’t rush it”, the 40-year-old added.
Chamblee was at it again Wednesday when he found a way to spin Woods’ planned return to golf in a negative light.
“It’s different trying to get back from an injury at 40 years old than it is when you’re in your 20s or early 30s”. “The tour needs him, and I want to see him playing well again”. And I don’t know if anyone’s going to emulate that at all, but I think people need to remember that. “I’m pretty pumped right now”. But he’s on a different level than anyone else.
On a week when Rory McIlroy ended a stretch of 20 PGA Tour tournaments without a win and Phil Mickelson saw his winless drought reach a career-worst 66 tournaments, it seemed logical to pursue this idea that it’s tougher than ever to win on the PGA Tour.
McIlroy said: “There’s been a handful of great athletes in the world in my lifetime – or in any of our lifetimes – that have put up numbers and consistent years like Tiger did over a 10-year period. When Tiger would play at his best, it was nearly impossible to beat him”.
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Woods won his 79th PGA Tour title in 2013 at the Bridgestone Invitational, leaving him three short of the record held by Sam Snead.
