NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — Tiger Woods walked into a crowded press room at Aronimink Country Club without crutches or a protective boot on Tuesday, and announced that he still has yet to hit any full shots – just putts – since withdrawing from the Players Championship in May.
Woods was non-committal on his status for the British Open, July 14-17 at Royal St. George’s, saying he has no timetable for his return. He would not speculate on any benchmarks he would need to reach to be able to play.
“That’s hard for me,” Woods, 35, said. “I’ve always been very goal oriented about when I’m going to play — how I’m going to peak, how I’m going to get ready, how my practice schedule is going to be. And I’m not doing that this time.”
Woods, now sporting a full beard, said his rehab includes up to three sessions per day in the gym. He walked without a limp on Tuesday, scrambling quickly up a flight of stairs on his way to the media session. He will participate in opening ceremonies of the AT&T National on Wednesday.
Woods said without hesitation that he believes he would be playing now had it not been for his abbreviated appearance in the Players Championship in May, when he withdrew after playing nine holes. At the Players, he re-injured his left leg a month after suffering a knee strain, hitting a recovery shot off pine straw in the third round of the Masters.
Woods said he learned from the experience not to rush back.
“There’s not going to be a 50-50 call this time,” Woods said. “I’m going to come back when I’m ready.”
Woods also had high praise for 22-year-old Rory McIlroy and his domination two weeks ago of the U.S. Open.
“His swing is definitely better than mine was at the same age,” Woods said. “But in [1999] my swing came together and I had a pretty good next two years (winning five of six major championships).”
But these days, Woods is working on another majors streak. Twleve have been played since his last victory, at the 2008 U.S. Open as he remains stuck on 14 in his pursuit of Jack Nicklaus’ hallowed record of 18 major titles.
“He won when he was 46, right? So I’ve still got some time,” Woods said with a smile. “I feel pretty confident of what my future holds and very excited about it. I’m excited about coming out here and being ready to go instead of trying to kind of patch it, which I’ve been [doing] for a while.”
