Tiger Woods today announced on his Web site that he is “full-bore with his practice sessions and has no restrictions,” the first time he has been able to say that since having reconstructive surgery on his left knee in June.
Woods wrote that he worked with his teacher, Hank Haney, a couple of days last week and his return is “just a matter of getting my golf endurance up. I don’t have my golf stamina back yet.”
Woods’ return to competitive golf also remains uncertain because of the ensuing birth of his second child, due sometime this month.
“As for my return to the PGA Tour, a lot depends on the baby, which is due pretty soon,” Woods said. “That takes precedent over anything I do golf-wise.”
One rumor Woods dispelled was that, if possible, he would return to play at the Buick Invitational (his old sponsor) at Torrey Pines (his home course growing up in Southern California), which starts tomorrow.
“[Torrey Pines] is a place that is near-and-dear to my heart,” Woods said. “I’ve always loved playing there, and I wish I could compete, but I can’t. I will probably watch some of the tournament on television.”
Although he didn’t touch on the rumor, started by the Associated Press, that he might want to defend his title at the Accenture Match Play Championship in Tuscon, Ariz., later this month, what this news does solidify is that Woods almost certainly will be back for the Masters in April, which was his original target return date.
“Once I come back, I’m not sure how I will play,” Woods said. “The perfect scenario is I come back without a hitch and play a full schedule. At this point, especially with the baby coming, I’m taking it tournament-to-tournament. With our new addition, it’s going to be a hectic spring.”
Woods knows what it’s like to play with the weight of an ensuing child birth and newborn as he did so during the 2007 season when his first daughter, Sam Alexis, was born one day after Woods finished second in the U.S. Open.
He went on to win that year’s PGA Championship, his 13th major title, putting him closer to the most-coveted goal of his career, catching Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 majors.
Before having his surgery in June – which reconnected his torn ACL ligament and allowed the bones in his left knee to stop rubbing against one another – Woods achieved what he called “probably the best [win] ever” of his career when he beat Rocco Mediate in a 19-hole playoff at the U.S. Open. He played all 91 holes of the tournament on a leg that doctors said he should not have been walking on.
There has been speculation that since the surgery, his swing would change and he might become a different style of player. Woods, in his very straightforward manor, answered those questions.
“A lot of people have asked me if my swing has changed since the surgery, and the answer is no,” Woods said. “I’m doing all the things I’ve been trying to do for a long time, but I can actually hit into my left leg without my bones moving. It’s a nice feeling!”
As he has said all along, he believes he is going to come back a stronger player.
“As for my length, I can’t tell if I’m longer,” Woods said. “I’m working hard to get myself back into tournament shape and I will return as soon as I’m ready.”