Tiger Woods admits to ‘tossing away’ major championships, says he ‘didn't play as much’

Tiger Woods made his first public appearance after several months on Tuesday ahead of the 2024 Hero World Challenge at Albany in the Bahamas. The tournament host, while speaking to the reporters, revealed that he isn’t even ready yet. Notably, the ace golfer also admitted that he was lacking throughout the last season.

Woods, who decided not to play this week as he continues to recover from back surgery, said he didn’t play enough going into the majors. The former World No.1 golfer said he “wasn't as sharp” as he needed to be and “didn't play as much” going into the major championships this year. The 15-time major champion admitted he didn’t play well.

Interestingly, the legendary golfer added that he would “be better” next year as he’s “physically stronger and better.”

Tiger Woods said while speaking to the media at Albany:

“This year was kind of -- I had to toss it away and I wasn't as sharp as I needed to be and I didn't play as much as I needed to going into the major championships and I didn't play well at them. Hopefully next year will be better, I'll be physically stronger and better. I know the procedure helped and hopefully that I can then build upon that.”

For the unversed, Tiger Woods played only five Tour events in 2024, including the four majors. He teed it up at The Masters in April, two months after withdrawing mid-way at The Genesis Invitational due to illness. He finished 60th on the major’s leaderboard, his only finish this year. The 48-year-old golfer went on to miss cuts at the PGA Championship, the US Open, and The Open Championship.

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Tiger Woods is ‘not tournament-sharp yet’

Tiger Woods on Tuesday said he's not close to returning to play at PGA Tour events. The ace golfer admitted he has a "long way to go" before being able to return to competitive fields. The 48-year-old addressed his absence from his Hero World Challenge event field and stated that he’s not ready to take on ‘20 of the best players in the world.’

Tiger Woods told reporters:

“I'm not tournament-sharp yet. No, I'm still not there. And these are 20 of the best players in the world, and I'm not sharp enough to compete against them at this level. When I'm ready to compete and play at this level, then I will.”

However, Woods stayed away from speculated retirement talks. He said “the fire still burns to compete” when asked about his wish to compete on tour again. He added that the ‘recovery process’ is going well. But he also added that his age isn’t helping in a speedy recovery.

It is pertinent to note that Woods underwent what is believed to be his sixth back surgery in mid-September. This is a follow-up to the other surgeries done to resolve the damages caused to his right foot and leg by his infamous car crash in February 2021. The golfer is yet to announce a probable date for his PGA Tour return.