Five-time Major winner Tiger Woods says he doesn’t care if this weekend’s competition PNC Championship would delay his recovery from injury, as long as it means he can compete alongside his son Charlie.
Woods pulled out ahead of this month’s Hero World Challenge after developing plantar fasciitis and told reporters Friday at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club of Orlando, Florida, that progress has been slow.
“I can train. I just can’t walk,” Woods said.
“It’s just one of those things where I need a rest and I haven’t really done that.”
Although he admitted the injury could impact his plans for 2023, he insisted competing alongside his 13-year-old son was his top priority – even if it means he could spend more time to recover later.
“I don’t really care about that,” Woods said.
“Being there with and alongside my son is so much more important, and having the chance to have this experience with him is so much better than my squeaky foot.”
The pair finished second in the 36-hole tournament a year ago, behind two-time winner John Daly and his son, John Daly II, in what was Woods’ first competitive golf just 10 months after a car accident devastating that almost cost him his leg.
He produced a comeback for the ages when he made the cut at the Masters a few months later, an extraordinary achievement despite finishing near the bottom of the standings.
“It’s been a lot harder than people probably realize,” said Woods, who struggled at the British Open before missing the cut in July.
“Some of the players who are very close to me know what I’ve been through, and they’re the ones encouraging me to step back a bit.
“But that’s not really in my nature. My nature is trying to improve.”
The sight of Charlie on the course at Friday’s pro-am dazzled fans, who couldn’t help but notice the uncanny similarities between father and son, from swing to mannerisms.
Even Tiger has had to admit he sometimes feels like he’s “talking to a mirror” when trying to give his son golf – or life lessons: “My clever little comments come right back to me.
“Whether it was at home or a few years ago in our first competitive environment,” Woods said, “those are memories and those are things we still talk about.”
Woods pulled out ahead of this month’s Hero World Challenge after developing plantar fasciitis and told reporters Friday at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club of Orlando, Florida, that progress has been slow.
“I can train. I just can’t walk,” Woods said.
“It’s just one of those things where I need a rest and I haven’t really done that.”
Although he admitted the injury could impact his plans for 2023, he insisted competing alongside his 13-year-old son was his top priority – even if it means he could spend more time to recover later.
“I don’t really care about that,” Woods said.
“Being there with and alongside my son is so much more important, and having the chance to have this experience with him is so much better than my squeaky foot.”
The pair finished second in the 36-hole tournament a year ago, behind two-time winner John Daly and his son, John Daly II, in what was Woods’ first competitive golf just 10 months after a car accident devastating that almost cost him his leg.
He produced a comeback for the ages when he made the cut at the Masters a few months later, an extraordinary achievement despite finishing near the bottom of the standings.
“It’s been a lot harder than people probably realize,” said Woods, who struggled at the British Open before missing the cut in July.
“Some of the players who are very close to me know what I’ve been through, and they’re the ones encouraging me to step back a bit.
“But that’s not really in my nature. My nature is trying to improve.”
The sight of Charlie on the course at Friday’s pro-am dazzled fans, who couldn’t help but notice the uncanny similarities between father and son, from swing to mannerisms.
Even Tiger has had to admit he sometimes feels like he’s “talking to a mirror” when trying to give his son golf – or life lessons: “My clever little comments come right back to me.
“Whether it was at home or a few years ago in our first competitive environment,” Woods said, “those are memories and those are things we still talk about.”
