Tiger Woods response to shaky Round 3 start sums golfer up after surgery

03 December 2023 , 03:34

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Tiger Woods is making a comeback at the Hero World Challenge (Image: Getty Images)

Tiger Woods battled back from two early bogeys to card a 1-under score in Round Three of the Hero World Challenge.

It is Woods ' first tournament since withdrawing from the The Masters in April and subsequently having ankle surgery. The golfing great confirmed his comeback in November before holding a press conference this week, but remained dubious over whether his body could stand up to the challenge. "I'm just as curious as all of you with what's going to happen," said Woods.

After his first round, a 3-over effort, Woods confessed that 'everywhere' hurts. "My leg, my back, my neck," Woods added when asked where most. "Just from playing and hitting shots, trying to hold off shots. It's just different at game speed, too. Game speed is a lot different than at-home speed."

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Woods then went on to race 4-under through the first nine of his second round, before three bogeys and another birdie saw him record a solid 2-under effort. And it was at the start of his latest round that saw Woods battle through adversity.

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Two bogeys on holes one and two could have knocked Woods. But much like his latest comeback effort, Woods showed he's not done yet. The 47-year-old responded with four birdies in the front nine alone. He ended the day 1-under and brings him level par for the tournament - albeit some 16 shots off leader and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.

Discussing his round, Woods was less fussed about his rusty play but more pleased about how he physically felt after a third consecutive round of 18 holes.

Tiger Woods is excited about how his body is performing in the Hero World Challenge (Getty Images)

"I’m very excited at how I have felt physically,” Woods said after a bogey on the 18th. "Knocking off some rust. We can always knock off rust at home, but it’s so different come game time. Game time speed is different than at home speed.

“To be able to knock off some of the rust as I have this week and showed myself that I can recover each and every day, that was kind of an unknown as far as I’ve walked this far. I’ve done all my training but add in playing and concentration and adrenaline and all those other factors that speed up everything, I’m very excited how the week’s turned out.”

Woods' positivity is encouraging for his fans who are hoping he mounts a comeback in 2024. The 15-time major champion said, at best, he would target one tournament a month. Something that's looking likely based on his comments after his third round at the Hero World Challenge.

Thomas Bristow