Tiger Woods admits he is ‘rusty,’ nonetheless eyes win at Genesis Invitational

PALISADES, Calif. — Tiger Woods stated he is nonetheless having issues together with his proper ankle and coping with plantar fasciitis in his proper foot however insists he would not be enjoying on this week’s Genesis Invitational if he did not suppose he may contend and even win.

Woods, 47, can be making his first begin in an official PGA Tour occasion since he missed the minimize on the a hundred and fiftieth Open Championship at St. Andrews in July. He was pressured to drag out of the Hero World Challenge, an occasion he hosts within the Bahamas in December, due to plantar fasciitis. He stated the ache in his proper foot hasn’t fully gone away however is healthier.

“As far as the recovery, it’s more my ankle, whether I can recover from day to day,” Woods stated throughout a information convention on Tuesday. “The leg is better than it was last year, but it’s my ankle. So being able to have it recover from day to day and meanwhile still stress it but have the recovery and also have the strength development at the same time, it’s been an intricate little balance that we’ve had to dance.”

It has been nearly two years since Woods was significantly injured in a automotive wreck not removed from Riviera Country Club, the location of this week’s match, which Woods hosts and which advantages his basis. Woods underwent a number of surgical procedures on his proper leg and foot; he stated surgeons almost needed to amputate his proper leg.

“It’s gotten so much better the last couple months,” Woods stated. “I’m excited to go out there and compete and play with these guys. And I would not have put myself out here if I didn’t think I could beat these guys and win the event. That’s my mentality. I am very rusty, but I’ve come off a rusty situation before and I’ve done well.”

Winning and even competing on the weekend at Riviera Country Club can be a outstanding step ahead for Woods. Last season, he competed in simply 9 rounds in three main championships. He completed forty seventh within the Masters, his first begin because the wreck, after which withdrew after 54 holes on the PGA Championship at Southern Hills due to ache in his proper leg.

Woods was 9-over after 36 holes on the Old Course in St. Andrews and missed the minimize at The Open.

Woods hasn’t competed in an official PGA Tour occasion in almost seven months. He did workforce with Rory McIlroy to play Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas in The Match, a 12-hole exhibition for charity, and performed together with his son, Charlie, within the PNC Championship in December. Woods was ready to make use of a cart in these occasions.

“As you watch that PNC, I was able to play out of the cart and hit shots and do whatever I wanted, but I just didn’t have the endurance in my ankle, so we’ve been working on that,” Woods stated. “I can still hit shots, but it’s the walking endurance that’s hard. That’s something that we’ve had to work on — walking distances on the beach, just basically stress it out but also be able to recover by the next day and see how it is inflammation-wise and then keep practicing. I may have overdone it a couple times here or there, but here I am.”

Woods stated his plan all alongside was to compete within the Genesis Invitational after which gauge whether or not his physique may endure enjoying in one other occasion earlier than the Masters.

“The plan was to play [in the Genesis],” he stated. “Whether or not this body would listen to me or not was the main question. As I told some of you guys that were down at the Hero and the [PNC Championship], I could do the Ranger Rick thing, so I can hit golf balls and do all that stuff. It’s a matter of whether I have endurance in my leg. We’ve been pushing it pretty good and [was] able to recover each and every day, which is great. So I’m excited about being able to compete and play and play here at Riviera, where basically it all started.”

Woods spent a part of Monday using across the North Course of Los Angeles Country Club, website of the U.S. Open on June 15-18. He will attend a gamers’ assembly Tuesday. He is scheduled to play in an 18-hole pro-am Wednesday; he had the primary tee time at 9:30 a.m. ET.

Woods’ resolution to play within the Genesis shocked many gamers. He’ll need to navigate his manner up a steep hill to the elevated No. 1 tee at Riviera, in addition to 52 steps after making his manner off the 18th inexperienced. Otherwise, the course is fairly flat. Woods stated he hadn’t performed 18 holes for 4 straight days this yr.

“I think we all wonder how we’re going to get up those steps on 18,” Justin Rose stated. “Saves me going to the gym this week. Yeah, I was surprised, I actually didn’t know when to expect to see Tiger, but I did catch a little bit [of] the father and son [at the PNC Championship] and his golf game looks great. He looked impressive there.

“In phrases of the vital a part of are you able to hit a golf ball, are you able to get a ball within the gap, all of that gave the impression to be actually so as. But we all know that is positively not the factor he struggles with, proper? It’s clearly the bodily facet of placing collectively 4 rounds of golf and a extremely good signal to see him within the discipline and feeling prepared and in a position to get out right here.”

Rose knew one way to make it easier for Woods.

“I suppose when you’re up these stairs the remainder of Riv down on the backside is kind of good and flat,” Rose said. “If you’ll be able to negotiate the stroll as much as the clubhouse to signal your card, perhaps signing for one thing within the mid-60s will get him up that hill fairly fast.”