Tiger Woods says body is ‘OK’ before of his third PGA at Valhalla.
Originally published on Field Level Media | Last updated: 5/14/24
Tiger Woods has returned to compete at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., for the third time, with this week’s PGA Championship expected to fall somewhere between his first two finishes.
In 2000, Woods won one of his most memorable majors, defeating Bob May in a final-round fight that included a three-hole playoff.
In a spectacle that has come to characterize Woods’ unshakable tenacity, the 15-time major champion marched behind his long putt on the opening playoff hole at Valhalla, demanding that the ball go into the hole. It complied.
When Woods tapped in his short winning putt to secure the second of four PGA Championship championships, he gave a characteristic spinning fist pump.
“It was a fun week and an unbelievable moment, really,” Woods said Tuesday.
Woods discussed the passing of the torch that occurred in the 2000 event when playing his opening two rounds with Nicklaus, who was competing in his final PGA Championship. Nicklaus failed to make the cut.
There was also Woods’ quest for his third consecutive major title that year, following his victories at the U.S. Open and the Open Championship.
Woods became the first player to win three majors in a calendar year since Ben Hogan in 1953, and he was also three-quarters of the way through a run of four straight championships. In 2001, he won the Masters, completing the “Tiger Slam” of four majors in four tries.
“Well, I just remember the pressure I felt,” Woods remarked about his attempt to match Hogan. “…The summer was a blur. “I was playing well.”
But, along with the highs, there were lows. Woods’ 2014 PGA performance at Valhalla was marred by back problems, as he missed the cut at 6 over par. He had previously had one back treatment at that point, and his spine was eventually fused.
Injury troubles were only starting to catch up with a player who had transcended golf.
“Coming into ’14, I wasn’t feeling very good,” Woods stated. “My back is always going to be sore and stiff, but that’s fine. “I just need other body parts to feel better.”
Who knows where he’ll go with his game this week. Following a single-car collision in February 2021 and subsequent extensive surgery on his right leg, he is now only a part-time tour participant.
This week will be Woods’ third tournament of the year. He withdrew from the Genesis Open in Los Angeles in February after one round due to sickness, then made the cut at the Masters last month before finishing 60th at 16 over par. He finished last among all participants who played all four rounds.
“Yeah, my body is okay. “It is what it is,” Woods explained. “I wish my game was slightly sharper. I don’t have many competition reps, so I’m having to rely on my practice sessions and (rehabilitation) work done at home or on site.
“But, at the end of the day, I need to be psychologically and physically prepared come Thursday. And these (early) days of practice on the golf course… get all that stuff done early so I can focus on literally playing and navigating my way around.”
Despite his declining level of play, Woods continues to draw enormous crowds. But he doesn’t see his appearances at majors as purely symbolic. Woods insists that he can still win events.
“I can still hit shots,” Woods explained. “Getting around is more difficult for me on a daily basis, as is recovering from practice or pushing oneself in competition. You saw it in Augusta. I was right there after two days and did not perform well over the weekend.”
Even as Woods plays as many competitive rounds as his leg allows, he is aggressively planning for the future.
Aside from business activities, Woods continues to focus on his competitive side. He could become the next United States captain for the 2025 Ryder Cup, which will be held at the Bethpage Black Course in Farmingdale, New York.
“We’re still talking,” Woods explained. “Nothing has been confirmed yet. We’re currently figuring out what it would look like and whether or not I have the time to execute it. I devote a lot of time to what we’re doing with the PGA Tour. I don’t want to take on the responsibility of captain if I can’t handle it.”
