Tiger Woods returning to competitive golf at Hero Challenge - November 30, 2017

[edjr 5,547]

http://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/21229759/tiger-woods-returning-competitive-golf-nov-30

 

 

 

 

Two weeks after posting a video of himself advancing to hitting a driver in his rehab, Tiger Woods is officially coming back.

The 14-time major champion announced Monday afternoon that he will make his long-awaited return to competitive golf at the upcoming Hero World Challenge, Nov. 30-Dec 3.

Posting the announcement to Twitter, Woods joked that he'd like to "thank the committee of 1" for receiving one of two sponsor exemptions into the 18-player tournament for which he has served as the longtime host.

Woods hasn't competed since withdrawing after the first round of the Dubai Desert Classic in February due to a lingering back injury. Less than two months later, he underwent a fourth career back surgery, which kept him sidelined for the remainder of the 2016-17 PGA Tour season.

"I am excited to return to competitive golf at the Hero World Challenge," Woods said in a statement. "Albany is the perfect setting and it will be great to join this outstanding field."

According to Woods' agent, Mark Steinberg, the golfer called him Monday to make it official.

"He said, 'I'm ready to go; I'm ready to play,'" Steinberg said. "He wasn't being too aggressive. He's taking it slow and progressing each day and called and said he's ready to commit. He's excited about taking this next step.''

Asked what is different about this return compared to the one at the Hero World Challenge a year ago -- when Woods waited more than a year following his third back surgery -- Steinberg said, "He honestly put no expectations on this surgery and what the future was going to hold," referring to the April 19 fusion.

"So it's hard to compare it to anything. It was a completely different surgery than he had in the past. He honestly was putting no expectations on it, so for him to say he's ready to play ,I don't think he can compare it to anything else.''

Woods made a similar return from injury at this same event last year, finishing in a share of last place among those who completed four rounds, but in a tie for the tournament lead in birdies with eventual champion Hideki Matsuyama.

A month later, Woods missed the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open, which was followed by the withdrawal in Dubai a week later.

Woods pleaded guilty Friday to reckless driving in a deal that will keep him out of jail as long as he stays out of trouble, resolving charges from an arrest last spring in which he was found passed out in his Mercedes on May 29 with prescription drugs and marijuana in his system.

Woods has said he had been self-medicating to relieve the pain from his fourth back surgery and insomnia.

For 683 weeks, including 281 consecutive, Woods was the No. 1-ranked golfer in the world, though his limited recent playing schedule currently finds him at No. 1171.

He will turn 42 years old less than four weeks after the final round of the Hero World Challenge.

The tournament field of 18 is comprised of only players ranked among the top 50 in the world, but due to a 2015 rule change, Woods -- as tournament host -- can receive one of the sponsor exemptions regardless of his ranking.

Daniel Berger, winner of the FedEx St. Jude Classic and member of the winning United States Presidents Cup team, joined Woods to fill out the remaining two spots in the field.

 

 

 

Thought he wouldn't be back till some time next year.

 

 

[dain11279 927]

[KSB2424 3,082]

Oh yeah baby

[Cruzer 1,992]

I hope he gets a ride to the course.

[drobeski 3,061]

Awesome

[supermike80 1,285]

And---Misses the cut

[edjr 5,547]

And---Misses the cut

 

No cut.

 

Only 18 people invited.

 

be better!

 

 

He can and most likely will WD though

[supermike80 1,285]

 

No cut.

 

Only 18 people invited.

 

be better!

 

 

He can and most likely will WD though

Ok fine. He wins. Whatever.

[Mike Honcho 4,010]

 

No cut.

 

Only 18 people invited.

 

be better!

 

 

He can and most likely will WD though

 

Glad I read the entire thread...was just about to start a thread: Tiger Woods misses first cut at Hero Challenge - December 1, 2017

[Reality 2,710]

Kind of strange, he was just cleared to take full swings..

 

Obviously too soon.

[SUXBNME 1,322]

[Cruzer 1,992]

Hopefully he's accepted the fact these kids are going to bomb it past him now... Do not want to hear about him going down for another back surgery after getting paired with DJ and Rory - trying to keep up.

[cbfalcon 824]

Prediction:

This comeback sticks. He is healthy and he returns to contender status. In short, he wins again.

 

Reasoning:

I think he has been a pain med addict for the past decade. And then it's a multi-edged sword that builds on itself....Drugs keep you from doing all the work to get healthy....they mask the pain when maybe you should be feeling damage being done...and most of all, needing to maintain access to drugs is a higher priority than doing the work necessary so that you don't get access to drugs any longer.

 

I think the arrest and 3 weeks in rehab gave him a chance. He will take it.

[Reality 2,710]

Success for Tiger has to be measured by making it through multiple rounds of golf injury free.

 

Thinking he will compete for tour wins is a bit absurd.

[Baker Boy 1,479]

Prediction:

This comeback sticks. He is healthy and he returns to contender status. In short, he wins again.

 

Reasoning:

I think he has been a pain med addict for the past decade. And then it's a multi-edged sword that builds on itself....Drugs keep you from doing all the work to get healthy....they mask the pain when maybe you should be feeling damage being done...and most of all, needing to maintain access to drugs is a higher priority than doing the work necessary so that you don't get access to drugs any longer.

 

I think the arrest and 3 weeks in rehab gave him a chance. He will take it.

3 weeks of rehab is extremely inadequate for any type of addiction!

[vuduchile 1,940]

Yeah so?

[cbfalcon 824]

3 weeks of rehab is extremely inadequate for any type of addiction!

A lot of people just need to get past the physical dependence and withdrawals. Then the never wanting to go through that hell again is enough motivation for them to mentally stay strong.

 

Other people need more help with the mental side, and yes, for those 3 weeks or even 3 months may not be enough.

 

I guess Im betting on the former in Tiger Woods case.

[edjr 5,547]

2 weeks till take off.

 

 

Is Rickie Fowler serious in saying Tiger Woods is hitting the ball 'way by' him?

https://www.cbssports.com/golf/news/is-rickie-fowler-serious-in-saying-tiger-woods-is-hitting-the-ball-way-by-him/

 

Tiger Woods has never been one to shy away from length. The 14-time major winner has always had an itch for the long ball, and he spent the first two decades of his career scratching it.

Apparently, he has the itch again. Rickie Fowler was recently asked by Golf.com's Dylan Dethier how Woods was looking, and Fowler said Tiger was hitting it "way by" him.

Of course, Fowler might have also been joking, but let's presume he wasn't. Fowler ranked No. 41 on the PGA Tour last year, averaging 300.3 yards off the tee. In his last full year on the PGA Tour, Woods ranked No. 49 at 293.2. So he apparently picked up a lot of distance since then. Or maybe the equipment is just that much better.

"I can't believe how far I'm hitting the golf ball," Woods told Geno Auriemma on his podcast recently. "I'm back to hitting it my full numbers and not really trying to do that. I didn't realize how much I had dropped off because of the pain in my back and from me going at it and hitting it normal just because I just lived it from day to day and I really couldn't tell the difference. But now I can tell the difference."

So is he hitting it past Fowler, or was Fowler joking? Who knows. Dethier clarified that the exchange might have been a bit tongue-in-cheek. What I do know is that we'll find out at the end of this month when both of them tee it up at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.

 

 

[edjr 5,547]

https://s7.postimg.org/fyqh476bf/Capture.jpg

[Cruzer 1,992]

TW needs to be more concerned with hitting fairways than hitting it past the kids.

[edjr 5,547]

3 days.

 

 

 

[Cruzer 1,992]

Not that it matters - but Faxon said TW hit a 2-iron 265 yards, , into a breeze, all carry - over the back of a par 5 green......... Damn.

[edjr 5,547]

Not that it matters - but Faxon said TW hit a 2-iron 265 yards, , into a breeze, all carry - over the back of a par 5 green......... Damn.

 

 

Would be great to see him put together a year like 2013.

 

I still think he won't be able to handle the pressure.

 

remember how bad his short game was last time. brutal.

[NorthernVike 2,080]

Not that it matters - but Faxon said TW hit a 2-iron 265 yards, , into a breeze, all carry - over the back of a par 5 green......... Damn.

 

 

Big deal. I can do that too. It just have to hit it twice.

[edjr 5,547]

 

 

Big deal. I can do that too. It just have to skull it

 

[Cruzer 1,992]

I still think he won't be able to handle the pressure.

 

remember how bad his short game was last time. brutal.

Yea, it was bad... I think in large part bcoz he just wasn't able to practice.... I think he will regain his touch, least to some degree.

 

I'm more curious to see what his t-ball looks like. If he's still spraying it all over the yard - he has no shot.

[NorthernVike 2,080]

 

 

 

It's a 2 iron. That's the only way I can hit it.

[edjr 5,547]

 

 

It's a 2 iron. That's the only way I can hit it.

 

touche

[edjr 5,547]

Tiger Woods paired with Justin Thomas for first two rounds of Hero World Challenge

 

 

https://www.golfdigest.com/story/tiger-woods-paired-with-justin-thomas-for-first-two-rounds-of-hero-world-challenge?mbid=social_facebook

[dain11279 927]

Game day biotches

 

Par 72, I'm setting the over/under for today at 71.5. Place your bets!

[edjr 5,547]

Game day biotches

 

Par 72, I'm setting the over/under for today at 71.5. Place your bets!

 

How will he get a half stroke? Perkins waitress carrying the bag?

[dain11279 927]

 

How will he get a half stroke? Perkins waitress carrying the bag?

 

You know what I mean dummy. And no, I wouldn't put it by him to actually do that

[TimmySmith 2,782]

70, 75, MC

[dain11279 927]

70, 75, MC

 

Could see that for the first 2 rounds. No cut though

[dain11279 927]

Last minute 4 person draft Ed?

[TimmySmith 2,782]

 

Could see that for the first 2 rounds. No cut though

70,75,40(9)WD

[edjr 5,547]

Last minute 4 person draft Ed?

 

Sure.

 

I'm always down. Pat?

 

11:10 tee time EST

[KSB2424 3,082]

[NorthernVike 2,080]

Has Tiger dropped out yet?

[dain11279 927]

My favorite follow on Twitter

 

https://twitter.com/tigerpimpwoods/status/936247511496429568