Tiger Woods still has no idea when he might get back on a golf course after undergoing back surgery five weeks ago. The 38-year-old went under the knife on March 31st after struggling for several weeks with a pinched nerve in his back.
The normal recovery time for the injury is three to four months, but Woods is not setting any specific targets at this stage. “My recovery from microdiscectomy surgery for a pinched nerve in my back is coming along, but it’s a very slow process,” he wrote on his website.
“I’m still sore. Not from the procedure itself but the incision. I just need to get back to my day-to-day activities, and that’s it. One reassuring thing from my medical exam is I have zero arthritic changes whatsoever. I’ve kept myself in very good shape over the years, and it has paid off.
“We knew going into this procedure that it really helps to be strong, especially in my glutes and my abs. I was strong in both departments, and that helps with the recovery and rehab, and you’re able to come back faster.
“I made the decision to have surgery because physically I just couldn’t make a golf swing. That pretty much sums it up.”
Woods said he had begun cycling and swimming as he builds up his strength and fitness, but is yet to take a full swing with a golf club. "I'm doing everything I can and listening to my doctors and working on a strength programme, and then we just have to see how my back is," he added.
'Heal up'
"Some people heal up in three months, some people take four months, some people take longer. I just don't know.
“I haven’t used a sand wedge yet. I’ve just done putting and chip-and-runs using the same length of motion. I haven’t really rotated yet. As far as taking a full swing, I have conference calls with my doctors every couple of weeks to see how my progress is and just kind of chart it out from there.”
Woods, who would be defending his title at The Players Championship this week were it not for the injury, is also unsure if he will need to adjust his game when he returns, but said he is taking confidence from his previous experience of injuries after problems with his knee and his Achilles. "Once I begin swinging a club again, I'm not sure if I will have to make any changes to protect my back; that's up to (coach) Sean Foley and me on what we do," he said.
“As far as limitations, it’s a building process, just like when I came back from my knee and Achilles injuries. You start from the green and work your way back: putting, chipping, pitching, wedging, mid-irons, long irons, woods and eventually playing. That’s all a process and takes time.
“We have to make sure my back heals fine and I have the strength and mobility going forward.”
