Phil Mickelsons message to Tiger Woods shows | Golf News

Woods has remained tight-lipped about his aggressive future, though he just lately joked about returning to motion on a restricted schedule.

“I’m probably going to play 25 events on both tours and I think that should cover most of the year, right?” he quipped when questioned about turning 50. “No, I’m just looking forward to just [getting] back to playing again.

“Let me do that, and then I’ll type of determine what the schedule goes to be. I’m a methods away from that half of it and that sort of resolution, that sort of dedication stage.”

Throughout his entire PGA Tour career, the golf legend has never missed time due to injury. He captured the U.S. Open title just over a week before undergoing surgery on his left knee and claimed the Masters two years following back surgery. Over the past five seasons, Woods has competed in merely 11 tournaments. “Come back to what level?” Woods questioned. “I’d like to come back to just taking part in golf again.”

The champion has endured more than 30 injuries during his professional journey. “Unfortunately, I’ve been through this rehab course of before,” Woods explained. “It’s just step by step. Once I get a really feel for working towards, exploding, taking part in, the recovery course of, then I can assess where I’m going to play and how a lot I’ll play.”

What remains undeniable is Woods’ profound influence on fellow professional golfers. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler revealed that nothing motivated him more than observing Woods compete at the 2020 Masters, even when he wasn’t in contention.

Woods finished tied for 38th that year while defending his green jacket.

“Tiger was just different in the way in which he approached each shot. It was just like the last shot he was ever going to hit,” Scheffler remarked. That marked their only round together, with Scheffler now holding the top ranking.

Others weighed in as well. “He’s the only man I’ve ever recognized who regularly exceeded expectations,” Tom Lehman noted. “No matter how a lot you heaped on him, he discovered a manner to exceed them.”