We got perhaps our best indicator of Tiger Woods’ current physical condition to date during the unveiling of The Playgrounds, a 10-hole short course at the Woods-designed Bluejack National. A junior golfer — 11 year old Taylor Crozier — hit a hole-in-one in front of Woods and the crowd on a 60-yard hole.
After the ball dropped in the hole, Woods swiftly, yet gingerly moved to embrace Crozier before taking a shot of his own — a putt that nearly went in as well.
Earlier in the day, we were hit with a media barrage from Woods, especially if we’re going by Tiger Woods’ standards.
The 14-time major champion was expected to meet the media publicly for the first time in three months in Montgomery, Texas for the unveiling of The Place, a Nike Golf Performance Center, as well as the The Playgrounds.
Preemptively, however, Woods sent out a tweet that linked to a short update on his website.
On the way to @BluejackNation working on getting more fit every day. https://t.co/FcAjMUxjhA
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) March 2, 2016
As I announced last week, I am starting to feel a lot better. I have been chipping and putting at home, and recently started hitting 9 irons. That’s been so nice. After all, Florida is the Sunshine State.
My son Charlie and I compete in just about everything and have three-hole chipping contests. The loser has to do push-ups. My short game feels pretty sharp.
The big thing right now is trying to get stronger and more flexible. Sitting out as long as I did, some weakening occurred, and I have a lot of work ahead of me.
While there is no timetable on my return to competitive golf, I want to play this game at the highest level again. In order to do that, I have to get healthy.
The latest offering didn’t give much more of an update than the “progressing nicely” tweet from last week and ensuing reports, but it’s a good start in terms of hearing from Woods more consistently.
Speaking to the assembled media outside of Houston later in the day, Woods again reiterated what he wrote on his website: he’s advancing and making progress, but he is still without a timetable as to when he might be able to return to competitive golf.
