by A recent win at a high school golf event for Charlie Woods felt like it would accelerate the changing of the guard. The 14-year-old has made quiet but steady progress in the sport where his father, Tiger, has iconic status. It will be easier for the golf world to accept Woods Sr’s departure from mainstream competition if there is a realistic prospect of his son taking up the mantle.
Characteristically, Tiger has other ideas. He was motivated to return to the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas since a car accident in early 2021 that threatened much more than his career. By the time Woods cut short his visit to Augusta National in April, it felt like professional closure was finally upon us. There was little point in Woods putting his body through the most intense pressure without being able to complete 72 holes. He was not seen between April and November.
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What Woods said at the Albany resort was as striking as how he hit the ball. He has a best-case goal of playing once a month in 2024. Not only does this plan come through the realization that he can’t hope to be competitive if he’s less often inside the ropes, but that he could his body to withstand that kind of schedule. It is pointless to set up this vision for the next year without the true belief that it could happen. This comeback feels like it has substance.
“You can simulate everything you want at home and it was as good as I can,” Woods said. “We’ve played a lot of cash games at home and tried to simulate it but it’s different. The mind, the anxiety, the emotions are more successful here than at home. You can always drop a ball at home, no hassle. Here it is going to cost you. Putting pen and paper together, it’s a little bit different.”
Woods will be looking to take part in the Genesis Invitational in Los Angeles in February. Given his proximity to Hero, who are now sponsors of the Dubai Desert Classic, he will certainly have the option of starting the year in the Middle East in January if he so chooses. Whether the 47-year-old is keen on the trip from Florida is another matter.
The Players Championship and the Masters take care of March and April respectively. Three more majors follow in May, June and July. Participating in the Olympics is one of the few things CV Woods is missing; the organizers of the Games would be very disappointed at the thought of the 15-time major champion wearing US colors in early August. If Woods qualifies for the FedEx Cup playoffs he could theoretically continue to play until the end of that month but that’s a tough ask on a limited schedule. A run would be successful between February and July.
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An ankle fusion, Woods’ most recent surgery, solved his bone-on-bone ankle pain. His gait is still to be seen but his movement in general looks fine. Woods’ swing is perfectly smooth and controlled. There are putting problems in the Bahamas – and the greens get little better as they approach their fifties – but such issues can affect those who play all the time.
“My ankle has no mobility anymore,” he said. “I can’t drive my knee like I used to and I can’t turn like I used to because my back is fused. There are just a lot of things I can’t do. But it doesn’t look like I’ve made any major swing changes or tried to make any changes. I let my body tell me what I need to do.”
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Players from the PGA Tour have praised how strongly Woods was involved in discussions about the organization’s future. An agreement with the Saudi Public Investment Fund, a different entity or both will be required in the coming months.
“He could easily ride off into the sunset, never touch a club again, never do anything again, just live and enjoy himself, relax with his kids,” said Scottie Scheffler, Prime Minister of the World, No.
“But he keeps coming back and trying to compete. He continues to do what is best for the players and the PGA Tour. So it’s very inspiring for the rest of us involved in the game with what he’s doing at the moment.”
If 2024 plays out the way Woods has predicted, the members will continue to rotate. Charlie’s time in the spotlight can wait.
