Tiger Woods is playing in his 22nd PGA Championship this week and says that his body is feeling much better than it did the last time he played competitively. After an extended absence from the game to recuperate from injuries sustained in a February 2021 car accident, Woods returned to play last month at the Masters and made the cut, although he was not pleased with his weekend performance.
After another month off to rest and train, Woods – a three-time PGA champion including in 2007 here at Southern Hills – feels like his game and body are in a much better place.
“We’ve been working hard and again, I have days where it’s tough and you know, other days where we can push through it,” Woods said Tuesday at the 104th PGA Championship. “But we keep working at it.
“I’m having more days which are better, more positive. Able to practice a little bit longer. So I’m able to do activities and things that I was hoping to do.”
Woods was interested in the changes made to the golf course by Gil Hanse a few years ago, and noted that it’ll play much differently than it did 15 years ago when he shot 71-63-69-69 to beat Woody Austin by two shots. He particularly likes the length of the rough, said he enjoys more slopes on the greens and expects to be presented with options to hit different clubs off several tees.
But as always it is the case with Woods, it comes down to winning and having a chance late on Sunday.
“I feel like I can, definitely,” he said. “I just have to go out there and do it. I have to do my work. Starts on Thursday and I’ll be ready.”
Tiger Woods headlines a group on Thursday and Friday that features fellow PGA Champion, Rory McIlroy, and Jordan Spieth, who is chasing the fourth and final leg of the Career Grand Slam at Southern Hills Country Club.
