Tiger Woods Says He May Not Play Again After Latest Injury

Tiger Woods recently said he envisioned a return to competitive golf despite his latest injury, although on Wednesday he seemed to change tunes.

Tiger Woods injury news

“I don’t know what my future holds for me,” the 14-time major champion said during a press conference at Liberty National ahead of the Presidents Cup, where he will serve as an assistant to U.S. captain Steve Stricker.

Woods, 41, underwent his fourth-ever back surgery in April. Last week, he posted a lengthy statement on his website about how he had started hitting 60-yard shots but was not yet cleared to take full shots because his doctors recommended he not twist his back. Since then, he was also arrested following a drunk-driving incident near his home in Florida in late May.

“Overall, I’m very optimistic how I’m progressing,” he said. “Like I said, the pain’s gone, but I don’t know what my golfing body is going to be like because I haven’t hit a golf shot yet.

“So that’s going to take time to figure that out and figure out what my capabilities are going forward. And there’s no rush.”

Woods did not address his DUI nor his subsequent treatment at a facility, although he did say that his back pain was affecting his sleep, as well as his ability to drive and stand for long periods of time. The golfer said he ended up asleep behind the wheel after suffering a bad reaction to pain medication.

The California native has missed all of the major championships over the past two years, made a return to competitive golf last year and earlier this year. He withdrew after a first-round 77 at the Dubai Desert Classic on Feb. 2, where he failed to make a single birdie. His last team competition was the 2013 Presidents Cup, where he went 4-1-0.

“I think it’s great,” said Jim Furyk, an assistant for Stricker and the 2018 U.S. Ryder Cup captain. “I’ve always said that a lot of the guys we have on our team, the younger players on both sides, they grew up when he was our dominant player, the face of the PGA Tour, and they grew up idolizing him.

Woods maintains the record for most matches won in Presidents Cup history with 24, one ahead of Phil Mickelson, who could beat him this week.

In another recent blog post, Woods said he was exercising six days a week.

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – DECEMBER 02: Tiger Woods of the United States hits his shot on the second tee during round two of the Hero World Challenge at Albany, The Bahamas on December 2, 2016 in Nassau, Bahamas. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)