Tiger makes return this week in Hero World Challenge
Tiger Woods returns to competition this week for the first time since August when he plays host to the elite 18-player Hero World Challenge at Isleworth Golf & Country Club in Windermere, Florida. Tiger is a five-time winner of the $3.5 million event, previously held at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California, the past 14 years.
It’s a homecoming for Woods, who lived, played and practiced at Isleworth for more than a decade before moving to Jupiter, Florida.
Tiger’s last competitive round was played Aug. 8 during Round 2 of the PGA Championship at Valhalla Country Club, where he missed the cut for only the fourth time in his career at a major championship. However, at the time, Woods was still recovering from back surgery he underwent in March for a pinched nerve and shot 74-74 in only his 11th and 12th rounds since the procedure. He withdrew on the ninth tee the Sunday prior at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational due to unrelated back spasms and didn’t decide to play in the PGA until Tuesday.
“That was tough,” Woods said after the PGA. “I tried as hard as I could. That’s about all I got.”
At the advice of his doctors, Tiger shut it down immediately afterward and began a slow, regimented rehab process to strengthen his lower back muscles. He finally started hitting wedges about 90 days ago and has slowly ramped up his practice sessions. Woods recently began playing and said he has felt no after-effects from the surgery.
“It feels fantastic,” Tiger said of his body during a pre-tournament press conference Tuesday. “I’ve gotten stronger and faster. I just need to hit more balls. I can play soccer with my kids in the backyard and do whatever I want.”
Woods isn’t sure how his improved physical condition will translate to the tournament this week during the heat of battle but is excited to test himself.
“I’m curious to find out,” he said. “Where is my miss going to be?”
New swing consultant Chris Como will be on hand to assess Tiger’s progress. He was hired on Nov. 22 after a thorough search.
On the positive side, the long layoff enabled Woods to get a better handle on his golf swing — what worked and what didn’t. He and Como have poured over countless old videos and have gone back to many of the swing concepts he used when he was younger to reduce wear and tear on his body, generate more club head speed and make him feel more comfortable. Tiger even had to borrow his mother’s VCR to review old tapes.
“It’s new and it’s old,” said Woods, who turns 39 on Dec. 30. “I just haven’t done it for a long time, but my body is remembering it. And having an old motor pattern that I know has made the transition so much easier.”
Winner of 79 PGA TOUR titles and 14 major championships, the injury-plagued Woods struggled last season. In seven PGA TOUR starts, his best finish was a tie for 25th at the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship.
Following the surgery, Tiger played in the Quicken Loans National in late June, the Open Championship, Bridgestone and the PGA.
“I wasn’t ready,” he said. “I didn’t play very well, and it showed. My scores were awful.”
Woods is looking for a big turnaround in 2015.
Tiger is also excited to join forces with new title sponsor Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest maker of motorcycles and scooters. He signed a four-year endorsement deal with the India-based company on Monday.
“We couldn’t have a better partner,” he said.
Woods also announced that the tournament, now in its 16th year, will move to the Albany Club Bahamas in 2015 for three years.
Six of the top-10 ranked players in the world are participating this week, including Henrik Stenson (4), Justin Rose (6), Bubba Watson (7), Jason Day (8), Matt Kuchar (9) and Rickie Fowler (10). Also playing is rising young star Jordan Spieth, a six-stroke winner in the Australian Open last week, Billy Horschel, the 2014 FedExCup champion, Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland and defending champion Zach Johnson.
Woods begins first-round play Thursday at 12:15 p.m. ET with Day.
Proceeds from the tournament benefit the Tiger Woods Foundation.
