Tiger Woods on Recovery: ‘It’s a Very Slow Process’

Tiger Woods (Allison)

TIGER WOODS HAS WRITTEN. Not spoken, written. And he wrote a heck of a lot, posting a 1600-word update at TigerWoods.com.

I have to say some of the detail—both professional and personal—is kind of amazing considering the tight-lipped nature of many of his media conferences. Tiger so often comes across as a reluctant talker, as if the goal is to give out as little information as possible.

But today at his site Tiger talked—er, wrote—about seemingly everything, including putting contests with son Charlie and how his home greens with sand-filled holes are running about 13 on the Stimpmeter.

Tiger began by expressing his regrets about missing this week’s Players Championship, where he is the defending champion. And then he got to what we all want to know:

My recovery from microdiscectomy surgery for a pinched nerve in my back is coming along, but it’s a very slow process. I’m still sore. Not from the procedure itself but the incision. I just need to get back to my day-to-day activities, and that’s it.

One reassuring thing from my medical exam is I have zero arthritic changes whatsoever. I’ve kept myself in very good shape over the years, and it has paid off. We knew going into this procedure that it really helps to be strong, especially in my glutes and my abs. I was strong in both departments, and that helps with the recovery and rehab, and you’re able to come back faster.

I made the decision to have surgery because physically I just couldn’t make a golf swing. That pretty much sums it up.

When will Tiger be back?

As for my return to golf, I really don’t know. I’m doing everything I can and listening to my doctors and working on a strength program, and then we just have to see how my back is. Some people heal up in three months, some people take four months, some people take longer. I just don’t know.

What is Tiger doing right now?

I haven’t used a sand wedge yet. I’ve just done putting and chip-and-runs using the same length of motion. I haven’t really rotated yet. As far as taking a full swing, I have conference calls with my doctors every couple of weeks to see how my progress is and just kind of chart it out from there. Basically, you just follow a program. It’s tedious because it’s little rehab stuff, but you still have to do it. That’s where I think the experiences of having gone through the surgeries in the past have really helped because you have to lay the foundation down first before you can do the more arduous activities and then return to form. I’m walking and able to cycle now and started swimming last week.

Will Tiger have to change his swing again?

Once I begin swinging a club again, I’m not sure if I will have to make any changes to protect my back; that’s up to Sean Foley and me on what we do. As far as limitations, it’s a building process, just like when I came back from my knee and Achilles injuries. You start from the green and work your way back: putting, chipping, pitching, wedging, mid-irons, long irons, woods and eventually playing. That’s all a process and takes time. We have to make sure my back heals fine and I have the strength and mobility going forward.

Tiger went on to say, “I hope to be back this summer, but I just don’t know when.”

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