Tiger Woods says his days of playing golf full time are over, following devastating injuries to his legs in a car crash earlier this year.
In an extensive interview with Golf Digest published Monday, Woods said he hopes to eventually play a handful of PGA tournaments a year. “I think something that is realistic is playing the tour one day — never full time, ever again — but pick and choose, just like Mr. [Ben] Hogan did. Pick and choose a few events a year and you play around that,” he said in a Zoom video interview.
“” I can still participate in the game of golf … 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.””
“It’s an unfortunate reality, but it’s my reality. And I understand it, and I accept it,” Woods said, adding “I don’t have to compete and play against the best players in the world to have a great life.”
Woods was seriously injured in a rollover crash in Los Angeles in February, and has undergone a lengthy rehabilitation. “I have so far to go … I’m not even at the halfway point,” he told Golf Digest.
Last week, Woods posted a video of himself on social media taking practice swings, with the comment “Making progress.”
Woods has won a record-tying 82 tournaments on the PGA Tour, and 15 major championships. His career was sidelined by scandal and injuries, but he mounted a years-long comeback and won The Masters in 2019 — his first victory at a major in 11 years. Last December, he underwent his fifth back surgery.
Woods is a among a handful of professional athletes to reach $ 1 billion in career earnings, including sponsorship deals with Nike Inc. NKE, +1.10%, Bridgestone 5108, +2.15%, Monster Energy MNST, -0.23% and other brands.