It was, arguably, the main news story of the year. With due respect to McIlroy, Johnson, Day and company – as well as the Ryder Cup and four annual majors – the most anticipated date on many golfing fans’ agenda was the return to competition of Tiger Woods.
The player himself announced in September that he hoped to be back on the US PGA Tour in the Safeway Open this week – the season-opening event of the 2016-17 season, which would have been his first start in a Tour event since the 2015 Wyndham Championship 14 months ago.
However, on Monday he withdrew, announcing in a statement, “After a lot of soul searching, and honest reflection, I know that I am not yet ready to play on the PGA Tour or compete in Turkey (Turkish Airlines Open on the European Tour in November). My health is good and I feel strong, but my game is vulnerable and not where it needs to be. It’s not up to my standards, and I don’t think it would be up to yours.
“When I announced last week I was going to Safeway, I had every intention of playing, or I wouldn’t have committed. Unfortunately, however, lately my practice has been limited. I spent a week with the US Ryder Cup team, an experience and honour I wouldn’t trade for anything. I practised this past weekend at Stanford, but after a lot of hours I knew I wasn’t ready to compete against the best golfers in the world. I will continue to work hard, and plan to play at my foundation’s event, the Hero World Challenge, in Albany. “I know this is disappointing to you, but no one is more disappointed than I am. I always want you to be proud of our association, so that’s why I will continue to strive to be able to play tournament golf. I’m very close, taking my game from the range to the course is the final hurdle, and with your continued support I know I’ll get there.”
Woods’ last win on Tour was in 2013 at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational. It was his fifth win that season but since then he has made just 23 starts on Tour, suffering from back issues and undergoing microdiscectomy surgery. He spent the 2015-16 season rehabbing and then working on his game. In missing that entire season, he did not play in any of the four majors for the first time in his career, and he still remains four short of equalling Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 professional major wins.
Spaniard Tests Potential Senior Waters
Meanwhile, the good news is that José María Olazábal – who has also suffered from severe, almost career-ending injuries over the years, is returning to the European Tour in this week’s British Masters.
The dual US Masters champion and 23-time European Tour winner will make his first appearance in more than 18 months at The Grove, then plans to also tee up in the Portugal Masters.
Olazábal, who is now eligible for the Senior Tour after turning 50 in February, said, “I am very excited to compete again. I want to see how the body can cope with the regular competition rhythm of practice and 18 holes. The two weeks at the British Masters and Portugal Masters will be a good test to see if I can stand up all day. I want to see how it goes during the two weeks, and that will help me to take a decision on whether I will keep on playing the European Tour or the senior circuit next season.
“The problem is due to an inflammation of the extremities of the tendons, and it’s been a long process of recovery. I hit rock bottom last December and started improving slowly from January. Although I’m feeling better, I’m still not at 100 per cent. The pain is not so bad now, it gets a bit painful from time to time but I think that’s just getting old!”
