NEW YORK – Tiger Woods still hopes to play one tournament a month for the rest of the year, despite the golf great’s physical limitations in the wake of a 2021 car crash.
Besides that accident in which he suffered serious damage to his right leg, it has been well documented that the 48-year-old American had also been struggling with injuries and operations over recent years towards the end of his storied career.
“I have the next three months – three Majors – and hopefully that works out,” Woods said in an interview on NBC’s Today show on May 1.
The 15-time Major champion drew huge crowds at the Masters in April, but his 16-over 304 total was the highest 72-hole score of his career and left him last among the 60 golfers who made the cut at Augusta National.
Even so, Woods indicated he was looking forward to tackling the PGA Championship at Valhalla starting on May 16, with the US Open at Pinehurst in June and the British Open at Royal Troon in Scotland in July.
If he can manage it, it will mark the first time since 2019 he has played in all four Major championships – his last Major win came at that year’s Masters. To do so again, he will require detailed attention to his physical recovery.
“Cold plunge every day, religiously,” Woods added of the treatment for his sore body after the Masters.
He also hopes to capture his 16th Major title and ruin the “15 Stripes” logo design – each stripe represents a Major victory – on his new apparel line, Sun Day Red. Woods said: “My goal is to ruin the logo. I want to keep ruining the logo.”
To contend, he will likely have to reckon with world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who followed up his second Masters title with his fourth victory of the season at the RBC Heritage a week later.
Woods said he remains wide-eyed by his 27-year-old compatriot, who is slightly more than two decades younger.
“If you just stand back and watch ball flight, there’s something different about his,” he said of Scheffler, who is already a huge favourite for the PGA Championship.
“It’s just so consistent. It’s just a matter of if he putts decent, he’s going to win. If he putts great, he blows away fields. If he has a bad putting week, he contends. He’s just that good a ball-striker.” AFP, REUTERS
