Tiger Woods confirms retirement is on the mind during Hero broadcast

Tiger Woods joined the broadcast halfway through the opening round of the Hero World Challenge where he admitted he realises he may not have long left.

Ben Smith

01 Dec 2022

Tiger Woods confirms retirement is on the mind during Hero broadcast

Tiger Woods joked he'd rather stretch and relax than have any more surgery as he revealed retirement is effectively upon him.

Woods, 46, is unable to participate this week at the Hero World Challenge - which he is hosting in Albany, Bahamas - after developing plantar fasciitis.

The 15-time major champion joined the broadcast mid-way through the opening round on Thursday where he conceded he had the option of having surgery again on his right foot or "stretch and relax".

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Woods chuckled as he confirmed he chose the latter option. It meant he had to "shut down" his preparation despite shooting rounds of 63 and 64 at his home course in Jupiter, Florida recently.

Earlier in the week Woods all-but confirmed that retirement is on the mind, saying he's not sure how much is left in his right leg which is held together by screws.

The plan going forward is just to play the major championships and at least one or two more events if he is capable, he said.

"I can hit any shot I want," Woods said. "I just can't walk."

Speaking on Thursday, Woods told the broadcast:

"Unfortunately, that's just the way it has been [being unable to train how he wants] over the last few years. The body is not what it used to be and that's just the reality of it all.

"But I can play out of the cart which is great and I'm looking forward to playing with my son [Charlie, at the PNC Championship later this month] and just having a blast with him. Those are just moments that you are never going to forget."

When talking about the topic of LIV Golf and being a spokesperson for the PGA Tour, Woods continued:

"I realise myself I am not going to be a player for much longer. But I think it's more important that we recognise the past and build a better future.

"How do you do that? Obviously us [as players] coming collectively together just like Jack [Nicklaus] and Arnold [Palmer] and Gary [Player] did back in the day.

"That's what we are trying to do now. We are trying to leave the product better than what we came in here with."

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