Woods Admits His Incredible Journey Is Nearing An End

Golfshake Sports writer Derek Clements reports on the latest news following an exclusive Golf Digest interview with Tiger Woods.

AND so what has been arguably the greatest era that the world of golf has ever witnessed finally comes to an end. Tiger Woods has admitted defeat in his bid to return to the summit of golf after the horrific car crash he was involved in at the beginning of the year.

The 15-time Major winner has overcome the odds before, coming back from back fusion surgery to win The Masters in 2019. It was a victory for the ages - and it left us all dumbfounded.

He recently posted a video showing him hitting golf balls and says that he has made progress from his dreadful leg injuries. He has even spoken of the ambitions he still harbours. But his career at the top of the professional game is over.

Woods, 45, required surgery on open fractures to his lower right leg and further injuries to his foot and ankle following the single-vehicle accident in February, and said at one point he feared that his right leg would have to be amputated. Lest you forget, he crashed his vehicle at around 80mph, and computer records show that the brakes were not applied. He is lucky to be alive.

Speaking, exclusively to Golf Digest, ahead of the Hero World Challenge, which he hosts, Woods ruled out any possibility of a repeat of his Masters heroics. He said: “I don’t have to compete and play against the best players in the world to have a great life. After my back fusion, I had to climb Mount Everest one more time. I had to do it, and I did.

“But this time around, I don’t think I’ll have the body to climb Mount Everest and that’s OK. I can still participate in the game of golf. I can still, if my leg gets OK, click off a tournament here or there.

“But as far as climbing the mountain again and getting all the way to the top, I don’t think that’s a realistic expectation of me. I think something that is realistic is playing on the PGA Tour one day - never full-time, ever again - but pick and choose, just like Ben Hogan did. Pick and choose a few events a year and play around that.”

Woods scents weeks in hospital before returning to his home in Florida, where he continues to undergo extensive rehabilitation.

“It’s been a hell of a road, it’s been a long one and a sore one but I’m making some really positive strides,” he added. “I’ve had some really tough days and some setbacks here and there, but overall everything is progressing nicely. I just wish I could do everything that I used to do but I’m not quite there yet.”

Referring to his fears that his injuries were so severe he could lose his leg, Woods added: “I wouldn’t say it was 50-50, but it was damn near there if I was going to walk out of that hospital with one leg.

“I have so far to go - I’m not even at the halfway point. I have so much more muscle development and nerve development that I have to do in my leg. At the same time, I’ve had five back operations. So as the leg gets stronger, sometimes the back may act up - it’s a tough road.”