Woods admits career may be over

New York: For the first time, Tiger Woods has admitted his career may be over. The 14-time major winner fears the injuries may have taken too great a toll to launch another comeback.

Woods was speaking at the Presidents Cup in New York, where he is assistant captain. He has not played since February, after which he was forced to undergo a fourth back operation in 18 months. Yet while Woods, 41, claims to be pain free following the spinal fusion procedure, he is facing up to the realities of his condition. And it could be bleak for the sport, which he has bestrode like no player ever before.

When asked if he could imagine a scenario in which he never plays professionally again, Woods replied: “Definitely. I don’t know what my future holds for me. The pain’s gone, but I don’t know what my golfing body is going to be like.

“It’s going to take time to figure out what my capabilities are going forward. And there’s no rush. First things first: get my health organised.

“Then, basically just keeping waiting for what my surgeon says.”

Woods revealed that he has not hit a full shot since the procedure in April. The medics have limited him to 60-yard shots, maximum. And although he said he is “optimistic about the progress I’m making” he confessed that there was “no timetable on a likely return”. In truth, Woods is not sure what he will expect should he ever be fit enough to re-enter the arena.

“I don’t know what 100 per cent [healthy] means after eight surgeries [having also undergone four operations on his knees as well] but I’ll try to get as close as I can to that number,” he said. “Is anybody in here who is in their 40s ever going to feel like they did in their 20s? Huh? Seriously? Exactly. As I’ve told you guys, I’m only hitting 60-yard shots.”

Woods is not known for his frankness, which made this surprising in one sense. In another, it raised the eyebrows because he still has huge endorsements and it will be interesting to think what his financial they hear of the gloomy prognosis. Many will speculate that he is preparing the ground for his retirement but at one thing is clear he has already overshadowed the four-day match between The US and the Internationals, which begins on Thursday.

Meanwhile, here at the British Masters Rory McIlroy spent his own time in the confessional, detailing how he entered this Close House event because he feared the European Tour could force him to miss next year’s Ryder Cup. After his own injury-filled season, the Ulsterman was due to play in only next week’s Dunhill Links before ending his year in order to recover fully from his long-standing rib complaint. But this would have left him one event short of the minimum required to fulfil his obligations to his home circuit and thus be eligible for next year’s match in France.

“Why am I here? Because I want to play Ryder Cup next year and obviously I’ve got to play my five events in Europe,” McIlroy said.