Arguably the greatest golfer in the history of the sport is trying for another comeback.
Tiger Woods will show up this week on course in the Bahamas for the first time since having spinal fusion surgery in April.
There’s no question the entire sports world is watching as Woods prepares to play the Hero World Challenge, his first tournament back since having surgery. In the ensuing months, it wasn’t even clear Woods, 41, would make it back to the tournament, and he’s only been cleared to hit full shots for a little over a month. Still, Vegas oddsmakers list him as 20 to 1 to win a major in 2018, though his last major championship victory occurred a decade ago.
Can Tiger make it back? Here’s what his peers are saying:
Jason Day
“He doesn’t wake up with pain anymore, which is great. I said to him, ‘Look, it’s great to be one of the best players ever to live, but health is one thing that we all take for granted and if you can’t live a happy, healthy life, then that’s difficult.’ I totally understand where he’s coming from, because sometimes I wake up in the morning and it takes me 10 minutes to get out of bed, and for him to be in pain for three years is very frustrating. There’s no pressure. I think it’s a 17- or 18-man field. There’s no cut, and he’s playing at a tournament where last year I think he had the most birdies at.”
Claude Harmon (coach and son of former Tiger coach, Butch Harmon)
“In my opinion, he’s the greatest golfer of all time. The big thing is hopefully he can come back. What would be a great result for Tiger in 2017? If any tour event Tiger plays in he can play all four rounds and doesn’t have to withdraw—that would be a great outcome. If he can play a full schedule on the PGA Tour and not have to withdraw from any tournaments due to any injury—that’s a success. If he can take it beyond that based on how competitive he is—I don’t know if anyone knows what’s possible.”
Rickie Fowler
“I like his chances—it’s Tiger. We’ll get to see how he’s feeling. A big part of it is going out and walking and playing tournament golf. Playing at home is one thing, but it is a good thing to have him out and enjoying it is great. I think having downtime, sitting on the couch has given him a lot of fuel to be out here and given him the drive. It has given him some extra drive.”