AKRON, Ohio, (Reuters) – Tiger Woods has generally been a winning bet at Firestone Country Club but this week at the tree-lined venue he will face as much uncertainty as the recent U.S. debt ceiling crisis.
The former world number one will end a 12-week layoff when he tees off in tomorrow’s opening round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in pursuit of his first tournament victory since the 2009 Australian Masters.
A seven-times winner of the elite World Golf Championships (WGC) event at Firestone, Woods has not played competitive golf since he pulled out of the Players Championship in May after completing just nine holes.
The 35-year-old American has missed the last two majors because of leg injuries and even he cannot be certain how he will fare on his PGA Tour return after only recently getting back to hitting practice balls.
However Woods was in typically gung-ho mood when he spoke to reporters at Firestone yesterday after playing nine holes in practice.
“I’m ready to go,” the 14-times major champion said, adding that he had not felt as fit in years. “Doctors gave me the clearance to go, so here I am.”
As for his goals at Firestone? “Same as always,” he said. “Hasn’t changed, expectation level. I’m just focused on trying to win a golf tournament.”
Asked what he was most certain about with regard to his likely form this week, Woods replied: “I’m excited, excited to compete, to play and hopefully win the golf tournament.
“It’s Tuesday. I still haven’t been in a competitive environment yet, so that’s a totally different atmosphere. But the shots (in practice) felt very crisp, very clean.”
Woods hurt his left knee ligaments and Achilles tendon during the Masters in April and has not competed since he withdrew from the Players Championship at Sawgrass on May 12.
He has not won a major since the 2008 U.S. Open nor any tournament worldwide since 2009, and was forced to pull out of the June 16-19 U.S. Open at Congressional and the July 14-17 British Open at Royal St. George’s.
Woods only began hitting his driver a few weeks ago but he was especially delighted about his overall health.
‘NO PAIN’
“The great thing is I don’t feel a thing,” he said. “It feels solid, it feels stable, no pain. That’s one of the reasons why I took as long as I did to come back is that I want to get to this point where I can go ahead and start playing golf again like this.