Palm Beach Gardens, Florida …
Tiger Woods tees-up in just a third event of the New Year and a second PGA Tour event in succession admitting he’s still learning to compete ‘under the gun’ ahead of this week’s Honda Classic.
The Honda Classic is a ‘home’ event for Woods living, as he does, on Jupiter Island and around a 20-minute drive north of PGA National.
However, Woods is no stranger to the host course but also a tournament he is yet to win and coming close in sharing second place in 2012 behind Rory McIlroy who in winning went to World No. 1.
Tiger Woods undertakes stretching exercises on the 18h tee while waiting for his pro-am partners to tee off.
Woods has been golf’s longest ever World No. 1 but then he’s clearly still finding his way back onto the Tour following successful fusion surgery on his back.
And Woods was asked ahead of just a third regular PGA Tour since August 2016 how he was coping patience-wise.
“Well, I’m still learning. Probably the thing is, I’m so happy I’m not in pain anymore. I’m still learning that I’m stiffer than I used to be,” he said.
“You know, I can’t create the same angles that I used to be able to create naturally. Obviously I’m fused, so it’s a little bit different, and I’m still learning what that feels like under the gun. Some of my shots, I like to play, they are not the same as they used to be.
“That part, I’m going to have to learn. It’s not something that I’m used to because I’ve never felt like this before, but this is the new norm.”
Woods would not confirm if he will compete again after the Honda Classic and ahead of the Masters but did speak of a comparison to past years when the 14-time Major winner was not under such a scrutiny he is now.
“I’m just learning how to play tournament golf again, and unfortunately I’ve made some of my mistakes, i.e., last week, and that’s just unfortunately that’s part of it,” he said.
“As far as catch-up mode, no, I don’t feel like I am. I know most of the guys have been playing tournament golf a lot more than I have.
“As I said, I’m looking forward to April, trying to get my game solid for April. I’ve got some work to do.”
