BY AAGD STAFF
(March 12, 2019)
Tiger Woods spoke to the media Tuesday ahead of The Players Championship. He was not at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last week due to a neck strain. On Tuesday morning, Woods, age 43, played a round of nine holes for practice, saying, “I feel good, man,” as he arrived on Monday at TPC Sawgrass. He spent almost three full hours working on his putting, chipping and then going through his whole golf bag while on the range.
Regarding his neck injury, Woods spoke about how he had first noticed the neck ailment during the Genesis Open at Riviera. He mentioned how much the pain had gotten worse over the next several days, during the WGC-Mexico Championship. “It’s not painful now,” he said. “It was gradually getting worse, and that’s just because my lower back is fused. The stress has to go somewhere.”
However, with this all happening Woods does perhaps know that if he plays, he will be causing the pain to run throughout his body.
“It’s just the nature of the sport. If you have force, it’s got to go somewhere. If it’s not my back it’s my neck or my hip,” he added. “In a repetitive sport, you’re going to wear out something.”
According to Woods, he believes that he must continue to stay fit and flexible after having had numerous surgeries and the spinal fusion procedure that he underwent.
There was no mention of what Woods’ future golf schedule would be, “We’ll see after this week,” he said.
Next up on the PGA Tour schedule is the Valspar Championship, that happens next week on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook north of Tampa. Then, there will be the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play the following week in Austin, Texas. Should Woods feel well enough to play in either of those two tournaments, he could then take a break and rest until the Masters on April 11.
For now, Woods is scheduled to tee off Thursday at 1:27 p.m. from No. 1 on the Stadium Course. He is paired with defending champion Webb Simpson and Patrick Reed.
See all tee times HERE.
