Tiger Woods announces return to competitive golf at Los Angeles PGA Tour Event

Tiger Woods is returning to competition for the first time without the use of a cart since July announcing that he will play at the Genesis Invitational in Los AngelesWoods was hopeful of playing next weeks tournament at Riviera where he is the host of an event that typically had the strongest field of the West Coast swing even before it became elevated with a USD 20 million purseThe uncertainty came from a bout with plantar fasciitis as he was preparing to play in December That kept him from playing in his Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas He played a madeforTV exhibition over 12 holes and the PNC Championship with his son Both times he was allowed to ride in a cartCarts are not allowed on the PGA Tour Casey Martin used one under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Woods has said he was not interested in using one to play at the highest levelIm ready to play an ACTUAL PGA Tour event next week Woods said on Twitter a reference to playing only three majors last yearAlso Read Golf Indias Aditi Ashok storms to victory in 2023 Magical Kenya Ladies OpenIt will be his first regular PGA Tour event since October 25 2020 when he tied for 72nd against a 78man field in his title defense of the Zozo Championship The tournament had moved that year from Japan to Sherwood Country Club in California because of the COVID19 pandemicWoods has said he can hit all the shots I just cant get from Point A to Point BThats awesome Max Homa said of the news after his second round in the Phoenix OpenI imagine well be carrying him down the hill on 1 and up it on 18 which no one would mind But its awesome Im really glad hes back I think were privileged any time he plays nowThat Woods can play next week is an encouraging sign that he will return to the Masters in April although missing the Bahamas was an indication Woods doesnt entirely control when his legs and feet will act upAny time Tiger can be present on the golf course playing makes the tournament even better Jon Rahm said at the Phoenix OpenSo Im hoping he can play comfortably and Im hoping he can play wellWoods was recovering from a fifth back surgery in February 2021 when he crashed his SUV on a coastal road in Los Angeles two days after the Genesis Invitational suffering multiple fractures of his right leg and ankleWoods missed 14 months and it was remarkable that he returned to the Masters last April and made the cut He also made the cut in the PGA Championship only to withdraw after the third round of Southern Hills with a severe limp He skipped the US Open to make sure he was ready for St Andrews but missed the cut in the British OpenIts great Justin Thomas said at the Phoenix OpenAny time he is on property let alone playing is great for the eventR iviera is where Woods made his PGA Tour debut as a 16yearold amateur in 1992 and remains the one course he has never quite mastered He played 11 times at Riviera as a pro the most of any course without winningThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever