14 key takeaways from Tiger Woods' fascinating press conference
Tiger Woods spoke to the media ahead of the Hero World Challenge as the 47-year-old iconic golfer plots another career comeback.
Tiger Woods is on the comeback trail once again.
The 47-year-old was involved in a bombshell news conference ahead of the Hero World Challenge in which he discussed a number of topics.
Those included: the PGA Tour-PIF deal, Rory McIlroy, his playing future, a new caddie, his recent surgery, a potential Ryder Cup captaincy and aiming to play one event per month in 2024.
GolfMagic has broken down everything you need to know with 14 key takeaways.
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His latest ankle surgery was a success
Woods said the pain he felt during the 47th Masters has gone.
"My game feels rusty, I haven't played in a while," he said.
"I had my subtalar fused. I'm excited to compete and play and I'm just as curious as all of you are to see what happens because I haven't done it in a while."
When he decided he could play again
Woods said he realised he could play again once he realised he was recovering sufficiently after caddying for his son Charlie in his junior events in Florida.
He has been hitting the gym regularly and going on lots of beach walks.
"I was hitting golf balls a lot, trying to get Charlie ready for the event," he said.
"And then post event I started feeling, you know what, I can probably do, so why not?"
He's not concerned with walking anymore It's other parts of his body that are taking the brunt.
"My knee hurts," he said. "My back."
His reaction to the PGA Tour-PIF deal
Woods said he was 'surprised' and 'frustrated' no players were consulted.
It happened, 'so quickly without any input or information'.
"It was just thrown out there," he said.
He was always going to get his ankle replaced or fused
"That timetable was sped up," Woods said.
"The only way to fix that was either to get it replaced or fused, and we chose the fusion, the subtalar fusion and put hardware in there."
He's optimistic a deal can be agreed with the PIF
Woods said negotiations are taking place with 'no animosity', adding: "All the parties are talking and we're aggressively working on trying to get a deal done.
He has no idea what the world of men's professional golf will look like in two years' time
"I would say that the answer is murky," he said when asked about the future.
"There's a lot of different aspects that are being thrown out there all at once and we are trying to figure all that out and what is the best solution for all parties and best solution for all the players that are involved."
Woods has a new caddie
Woods' long-time friend and vice president of TGR Ventures, Rob McNamara, will be on the bag in Albany.
Going forward he isn't so sure. Charlie Woods will loop in the future but school is obviously the priority.
"He can't play hooky that often," Woods joked.
Woods claimed the delay to his indoor golf league, TGL, isn't disastrous
"I think it was moving very quickly and I think we can take advantage of time delay," he said.
"I think that we can do it right and I think all the parties that are involved really feel that this is going to be the best thing for it."
His believes he could play one tournament per month in 2024
"I think that's realistic," he said. "You would have to start with maybe at Genesis and something in March near the Players.
"Again, we have set up right now the biggest events are one per month.
"It sets itself up for that. Now, I need to get myself ready for all that. I think this week is a big step in that direction."
He has faith in PGA Tour boss Jay Monahan, but players cannot be blindsided ever again by policy decisions
Woods said: "He understands what happened prior to that can't happen again and won't happen again, not with the players that are involved and not with the player directors having the role that we have."
He's having sleepless nights
Woods said there are ongoing talks about how to welcome back LIV defectors.
He said: "That's part of the deal we're working through is trying to find a path, whatever that looks like. There's so many different scenarios.
"That's why I said there's a lot of sleepless hours trying to figure that out, a lot of participation from the players and what does that look like."
He supports Rory McIlroy's decision to resign from the policy board
Woods said: "I totally understand why Rory made that decision.
"We put a lot of effort and time into the Delaware meeting and getting everyone aligned for that.
"Going from there and the next couple years, just the involvement or the conflict within golf and then his participation at the highest level.
"He was in contention almost every tournament he played in and he was the spokesman at the same time.
"So that was very difficult on him personally and I totally understand it."
Woods believes he can still win
"What drives me is I love to compete," he said.
"There will come a point in time, I haven't come around to it fully yet, that I won't be able to win again. When that day comes, I'll walk."
He's not thinking about the 2025 Ryder Cup captaincy
Woods said there is too much going on at this moment in time to consider leading the U.S. side at Bethpage Black in two years' time.
He said: "Right now there's too much at stake with our tour to think about a Ryder Cup right now.
"We have to get this done and we have to be focused on this right now.
"The Ryder Cup can take a -- the players and everyone involved understands that this is an issue we need to focus on."
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