The 2022 season for the PGA Tour has kicked off with the Sentry Tournament of Champions leading the way, yet, many questions still hang in the balance regarding the gallant return of Tiger Woods to the competitive field.
When will Tiger return?
Fans were brilliantly teased at the PNC Challenge when Tiger participated alongside son Charlie, playing well enough in the better-ball competition to finish second. However, after spending three months recovering following his February 2021 car crash, the prominent golfer displayed his remarkable ability to hit precise shots right through the bag. Clearly, Tiger wasn’t ready for the PGA Tour at that point, but it did give hope that his return might be sooner than expected.
Earlier this year, Tiger said he will never play full-time professional golf again after experiencing severe injuries in the car crash. He has stated that his rehab was difficult, but moving forward. While he may never be a PGA Tour full-timer again, he was optimistic that he would compete at some point in the future.
“I think something that is realistic is playing the [PGA] Tour one day—never full-time, ever again—but pick and choose, just like Mr. [Ben] Hogan did. Pick and choose a few events a year and you play around that,” Woods said during a Zoom interview with Golf Digest’s Henni Koyack.
“You practice around that, and you gear yourself up for that,” he added. “I think that’s how I’m going to have to play it from now on. It’s an unfortunate reality, but it’s my reality. And I understand it, and I accept it.”
Will his comeback be this year’s Masters?
Augusta would be the ideal platform for Tiger’s comeback tournament. But the strain of such a hilly course on his body may be a bit too much for a fellow with a weak leg. So, he may consider his debut competitive event to be perhaps the PGA Championship in May at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Okla. The course there would be more accommodating terrain, which, despite its name, is relatively flat. Or maybe he will consider the Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland. It’s flat as a pancake and one of Tiger’s personal favorites. All are good choices. Now we’ll just have to wait to see what this player decides. Hurry up Tiger, the world is waiting.
Making progress pic.twitter.com/sVQkxEHJmq
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) November 21, 2021
