PALM BEACH GARDENS — Tiger Woods is not playing in Jupiter Links match against Rory McIlroy and Boston Common Golf March 1. But could the 15-time major champion return for Jupiter’s final match of the TGL regular season two night later?
Woods, who had disc replacement surgery Oct. 10 and Achilles tendon surgery in March, said in December he hoped to return to TGL at “the end of the season.”
Woods, who turned 50 in December, gave his latest health update Feb. 17.
“The disc replacement has been one thing,” the Jupiter Island resident said. “I’ve had a fused backand now a disc replacement, so it’s challenging. And now I entered a new decade, so that number is starting to sink in.”
Woods said he is hitting full shots but “not well every day.” The Achilles no longer is an issue but the disc replacement is sore.
“My body has been through a lot,” he said. “It’s just one of those things where it’s each and every day. I keep trying, I keep progressing, I keep working on it, trying to get stronger.”
Woods spoke about the possibility of playing on the 50-and-over tour PGA Tour Champions where carts are allowed. But playing TGL matches requires little walking and very few swings.
Tequesta’s Justin Thomas returned from a Nov. 13 microdiscectomy to compete at TGL last week. He hit 12 shots, not including putts.
Jupiter plays the Bay Golf Club March 3. If Woods is targeting the playoffs to return, the chances are remote his team is even playing in the postseason, which starts March 17.
With one win, Jupiter is in last place among the six TGL teams. The top four make the playoffs. Jupiter likely needs to win both its matches, and get some help, to make the postseason.
The lineups for Jupiter against Boston Common: Jupiter’s Akshay Bhatia, Max Homa and Tom Kim vs. Boston Common’s McIlroy, Hideki Matsuyama and Keegan Bradley.
Tom D’Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@pbpost.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Tiger Woods is not playing TGL Sunday, but could he return Tuesday?
Reporting by Tom D’Angelo, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
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