Tiger
progressing but still no timetable for return
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[September 23, 2017]
By Frank Pingue
(Reuters) - Tiger Woods is not hitting
full shots and has no timetable for his return to competitive golf
after undergoing his fourth back surgery in April, the former world
number one said on Friday.
In a wide-ranging post on his website that included thoughts about
those affected by recent hurricanes and the earthquake in Mexico
City as well as congratulations to outgoing U.S. Masters Tournament
chairman Billy Payne, Woods said he is sleeping better and no longer
has nerve pain going down his leg.
"I'm starting to hit the ball a little further – 60-yard shots. I
have not taken a full swing since my back fusion surgery last April,
but continue to chip and putt every day," the 14-times major
champion said.
"I'm working out six days a week, alternating between the treadmill,
bike riding, swimming and lifting twice a day. My muscle tone is
coming back, but I'm not in golf shape yet. That's going to take
time."
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The 41-year-old said his six-month back X-rays are coming up at
which point his surgeon will give him the parameters of what he can
do moving forward.
"Playing wise, I’m not looking ahead yet because I don’t know what
kind of swing I’m going to use," said Woods.
"I just don’t know what my body is going to allow me to do. Until I
do, I’m going to listen to my doctors and continue to take it
slowly.
Woods, who will be an assistant captain for the United States at
next week's Presidents Cup in New Jersey, has not competed since
withdrawing from a European Tour event in Dubai after a first-round
77.
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Tiger Woods Press Conference - Marina Bay Sands, Singapore - 3/11/11
USA's Tiger Woods talks to the media during a question and answer
session Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Jeremy Lee
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But that has not kept him from engaging in some friendly
competition, as Woods said he has hosted putting contests at his
house with fellow PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas and world
number seven Rickie Fowler.
Woods was arrested in May on suspicion of driving under the
influence and a toxicology report showed he had five different drugs
in his system, including pain and sleep medications.
A 79-times winner on the PGA Tour who was world number one for a
record total of 683 weeks, Woods stunningly lost form in recent
years due to injuries and the mastering of a new swing while his
ranking has plummeted to a mind-boggling 1,136th after his long
spell on the sidelines.
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Toby Davis)
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