Tiger Woods recently announced that he will be taking a break from golf following a back surgery he underwent in October. This surgery marked the seventh procedure on his back and the third major operation in the past two years, with previous surgeries on his Achilles and ankle.
Despite his illustrious career that began nearly three decades ago, Woods has been struggling with injuries, with his last major win at the Masters in 2019 ending an 11-year drought. While he managed to host his annual Hero World Challenge tournament in the Bahamas, he acknowledges that a return to competitive play is still far off.
Although Woods humorously mentioned playing in numerous events, he emphasized the importance of focusing on his recovery before committing to a schedule. Recently cleared to resume chipping and putting after six weeks post-surgery, he highlighted the gradual process of rehabilitation and strengthening necessary before returning to full swing.
A significant motivation for Woods is the opportunity to break the all-time PGA tournament wins record, currently tied at 82 with golf legend Sam Snead. Notah Begay III, a close friend of Woods, pointed out that the biggest challenge for Woods post-surgery is simply walking around the golf course, indicating the long road ahead for his comeback.