Tiger dishes on injuries, playing plans, LIV feud

Tiger Woods connected Tuesday said helium had 2 further surgeries this twelvemonth and that the plantar fasciitis successful his close ft that volition prevent him from playing this week is related to his ongoing betterment from superior injuries suffered successful a car wreck extracurricular Los Angeles successful February 2021.

Woods, 46, declined to disclose details astir the 2 surgeries oregon the circumstantial dates of the procedures portion talking to reporters astatine the Hero World Challenge successful the Bahamas.

A twelvemonth ago, Woods told reporters successful the Bahamas that it was "50-50" arsenic to whether portion of his close limb would person to beryllium amputated. He spent 3 weeks successful the infirmary and 3 months successful furniture aft the wreck.

Woods said helium began to endure from plantar fasciitis, inflammation that causes bottommost pain, portion ramping up to play successful the Hero World Challenge, a tourney that benefits his charity, TGR Foundation.

"It was a pugnacious determination conscionable due to the fact that I privation to play," Woods said. "I similar playing, I similar competing, but unfortunately, I tin deed the play shot and deed immoderate changeable you want, I conscionable can't walk. And truthful I've had a fewer setbacks during the twelvemonth that I inactive was capable to someway play through, but this 1 I conscionable can't. Only clip tin heal this one, and enactment disconnected my feet and get a batch of attraction done."

Woods said helium would request a period oregon 2 to retrieve from plantar fasciitis but that helium inactive plans to play successful 2 events adjacent period due to the fact that helium volition beryllium capable to usage a cart for those. He is scheduled to squad up with satellite No. 1 golfer Rory McIlroy successful a 12-hole lucifer against Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas successful the latest variation of The Match, scheduled for Dec. 10 astatine Pelican Golf Club extracurricular Tampa, Florida.

Woods besides is scheduled to play with his son, Charlie, successful the PNC Championship successful Orlando, Florida, Dec. 17-18.

"When you've got plantar fasciitis, the lone happening you tin bash is remainder and effort and agelong that retired arsenic champion arsenic possible, but it's rest," Woods said. "How bash you remainder erstwhile you're hosting a tournament? You know, it's hard, truthful this volition beryllium a pugnacious week. The [PNC Championship] volition beryllium a precise casual week. Charlie volition conscionable deed each the shots and I'll conscionable get the putts retired of the hole, truthful beauteous casual there. But different than that, successful The Match we're playing in, we're flying successful carts."

Woods said his program going guardant is to vie successful the 4 large championships and hopefully 1 oregon 2 different tournaments. Despite the latest setback, Woods said his close limb and ft are getting stronger.

"That's it," Woods said. "Physically, that's each I tin do. I told you guys that [at] the opening of this year, too. I don't person overmuch near successful this leg, truthful cogwheel up for the biggest ones and hopefully, you know, lightning catches successful a vessel and I'm up determination successful contention with a accidental to win. Hopefully, I retrieve however to bash that. But again, giving myself a accidental to get retired determination again."

Woods, a 15-time large champion, besides weighed successful connected the ongoing quality betwixt the PGA Tour and the LIV Golf circuit, which is being financed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and fronted by two-time Open Championship victor Greg Norman. Woods said the competing tours can't scope a compromise until Norman steps down arsenic commissioner and CEO of LIV Golf, which matches what McIlroy told reporters successful Dubai earlier this month.

LIV Golf and a fistful of its players filed a national antitrust suit against the PGA Tour, successful which it claims the PGA Tour illegally suspended players for competing successful LIV Golf tournaments and is wielding its monopoly powerfulness to squash competition. The PGA Tour filed a countersuit, claiming LIV Golf has interfered with existing contracts it had with its members.

"Right present arsenic it is, not close now, not with their leadership, not with Greg determination and his animosity towards the circuit itself," Woods said erstwhile asked whether helium believed the PGA Tour and LIV Golf could coexist. "I don't spot that happening. As Rory said, and I said it arsenic well, I deliberation Greg's got to permission and past we tin eventually, hopefully, person a enactment betwixt the 2 lawsuits and fig thing out. But wherefore would you alteration thing if you've got a suit against you? They sued america first."