Former world number one Tiger Woods has delayed his long-awaited comeback again, after claiming his game is still not in a position to be competitive.
The 14-time major champion has been out for more than a year with back problems, but was due to compete at this week’s Safeway Open in California. The 40-year-old American is now planning a return in early December at his foundation’s Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.
“My health is good and I feel strong, but my game is vulnerable and not where it needs to be,” Woods said. “I practiced the last several days in California, but after a lot of hours, I knew I wasn’t ready to compete against the best golfers in the world. I’m close and I won’t stop until I get there.”
Woods last competed in August 2015, since when he has twice had back surgery. Now ranked 786th in the world, he said he had made his decision to abort his latest comeback after ‘a lot of soul-searching and honest reflection’.
A vice-captain for the United States team that won the Ryder Cup earlier this month, Woods missed the whole of the 2015-16 season through injury, and played in just 11 tournaments the previous season.