A enjoyable, family-filled weekend kicks off at the 2022 PNC Championship with Tiger Woods and his son, Charlie, capturing most of the headlines. While youthful Woods’ swing has taken social media by storm, it’s the standing and well being of the elder one — the one who has taken social media by storm since its inception — that continues to be on the minds of most.
“I can practice. I just can’t walk,” Woods mentioned, echoing his feedback from the Hero World Challenge. “So when you’re dealing with the plantar [fasciitis] like this, it’s one of these things where I need rest, and I haven’t exactly been doing that.”
Developing plantar fasciitis in his proper foot, Woods was compelled to withdraw from the Hero World Challenge — the occasion he hosts yearly — at the start of December. Despite this foot harm accompanying a recovering leg and 5 prior again surgical procedures, the 82-time winner competed in The Match 7 with Rory McIlroy in opposition to Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth, and can hit the course once more at this week’s PNC Championship.
“It’s been a lot harder than people probably imagine,” Woods mentioned of his street to restoration. “There’s some of the gamers who’re very near me know what I’ve type of gone by, and so they’re those that hold encouraging me to again off just a little bit. But that is not likely in my nature. My nature is making an attempt to get higher. And I’ve. And by work ethic, I used to be in a position to, as I mentioned, play and compete in three main championships this 12 months.
“And this offseason hasn’t really been an off season. I’ve kind of ramped things up. But after this, come Monday, we shut it all down and take care of this foot so that I can ramp up properly. As you’ve seen, I can hit golf balls. I can do all that. I can practice at home. I can hit shots around the green. I can do all that. I just can’t get from point A to point B.”
With plans to get off his ft following the conclusion of the PNC Championship, one can not help however surprise what Woods’ future playing schedule could seem like. Playing solely 9 aggressive rounds in the course of the 2021-22 PGA Tour season — 4 at The Masters, three at the PGA Championship and two at The Open — the 15-time main champion was hardly ever seen, an oddity golf followers must get used to.
Conventional knowledge suggests Woods doubtlessly teeing it up in February at the Genesis Invitational, and possibly even The Players Championship in early March if the physique is up for it. If not, all sights stay on Augusta National for The Masters in April in what could be the primary of 4 main championship appearances in 2023.
Perhaps that’ll be it for Woods and 5 tournaments would be the max. Perhaps not. There are different occasions, together with The Memorial, squarely between the PGA Championship and U.S. Open, which make sense however solely time will inform as extra information about his well being, stamina and endurance come to mild.
What is for sure is the not too long ago developed plantar fasciitis is doing Woods no favors. Stripping him of a possibility to play alongside 19 of the perfect gamers on the earth in The Bahamas, it has additionally introduced a way of precariousness to his restoration timeline.
“No, not yet,” Woods mentioned of understanding his future schedule. “Because if I didn’t have the plantar feeling like this, then, yes, I could tell you that and I’d have a better idea. But I’m supposed to be resting this thing and stretching and letting it heal. But I’m not doing that at the moment.”
Instead, Woods is playing alongside his son as the 2 try to enhance on their runner-up efficiency from a 12 months in the past. With the potential for brand new accidents or aggravation of previous ones lingering, the soon-to-be 47-year-old Woods sees the larger image, and if some extra soreness is the worth he has to pay for a pair rounds with his son, then so be it.
“I don’t really care about that [a potential setback],” mentioned Woods. “I think being there with and alongside my son is far more important, and get to have a chance to have this experience with him is far better than my foot being a little creaky.”
