Spending his evenings post-round “laying in ice” simply so he might stand up and play once more the subsequent day is one motive why Tiger Woods shall be limiting appearances to the majors for the remainder of his profession.
The 47-year-old completed the Genesis Invitational in California, his first official event since final 12 months’s British Open, with a one-under 71, which left him in a tie for forty fifth.
Crowds flocked in unseen numbers to the occasion to see Woods as he performed in seen ache, strolling 72 holes in 4 days on a leg he almost misplaced in a automobile crash.
Having endured surgical procedures to repair his leg and his again, Woods is aware of his time heading in the right direction is restricted as he outlined what it took to get well, that made sense.
“I just about lay in ice just about all evening. It‘s not enjoyable, very chilly on a regular basis,” Woods stated.
“After which therapy, then getting muscle mass activated and return and hop within the chilly once more. The ebb and circulation of that, it‘s onerous. It’s onerous mentally, it’s onerous bodily.
“It‘s simply a type of issues, a part of being an athlete, it’s important to — sure, we prepare, sure, we push our our bodies, but it surely‘s additionally what’s most likely much more necessary is the restoration course of.
“If you happen to‘re in a position to get well, you’re in a position to push it more durable the subsequent day.”
Pushing extra commonly although shouldn’t be a part of Woods’ “actuality”, along with his subsequent look more likely to be the Masters in April.
Regardless of the apparent urge for food from followers and fellow gamers to see the famous person heading in the right direction as a lot as doable, Woods reaffirmed his appearances could be restricted to the main championships going ahead.
“I‘m not going to play any greater than most likely the majors and possibly a pair extra,” he stated.
“That‘s it, that’s all my physique will enable me to do. My again the way in which it’s, all of the surgical procedures I had on my again, my leg the way in which it’s, I simply can‘t. That’s simply going to be my future.
“So my intent final 12 months was to play in all 4 majors, I received three of the 4. Hopefully this 12 months I can get all 4 and possibly sprinkle in a couple of right here and there. However that‘s it for the remainder of my profession. I do know that and I perceive that. That‘s simply my actuality.”
Even understanding that, Woods stated stepping out in California, signalled “progress” for him.
“It actually was a little bit bit harder than I most likely let on,” he stated,
“My group has been incredible in getting my physique recovered everyday and getting me able to play each day.
“That‘s the onerous half that I can’t simulate at residence. Even when I performed 4 days at residence, it’s not the identical as adrenaline, it‘s not the identical because the system being ramped up like that, the depth, simply the main target that it takes to play at this stage.
“Irrespective of how a lot — I‘m superb at simulating that at residence, but it surely‘s simply not the identical as being out right here and doing it.”
