Tiger Woods has said that he is feeling stronger just in time for the US PGA Championship, which holds this week. This would be the second event Woods would be participating in this year after the Masters, which was held last month. Woods continues to recover after the ghastly accident he was involved in last year February. His appearance at last month’s Masters was his first professional appearance following the accident.
On Sunday, Woods played at the Southern Hills, Oklahoma, venue for the US PGA, as he practiced for the game this week. According to his caddie, Joe LaCava, Woods has been working on his endurance and does not get as tired as he used to: “I think the endurance is there now. I don’t think he’s getting quite as tired as quickly.
“Other than the fact he won here 15 years ago, I think it’s the stamina and endurance thing that excites him the most.”
The 46-year-old has won the PGA Championship four times. His last win was in 2007. Woods has finished top 10 five times, out of 20 participations in total.
The accident he had in February is one which he continues to recover from. It was quite nasty that amputation was even considered at some point. Even at the Masters last month, Woods still showed signs that he was not fully recovered as he was seen limping at the end of the event, although he managed to play the full four days.
Now, a month later, he appears to be in better shape, just enough for him to play for the second month in succession. He has been training and practicing, and, like his caddie pointed out, his endurance was improving. He even confirmed it himself as he spoke on Sunday: “I’ve gotten a lot stronger since The Masters. We went back to work on Tuesday [after The Masters]. Monday was awful. I did nothing, and Tuesday was leg day. So we went right back after it. Everything is better.”
That optimism alone is remarkable to see, and not everyone would get back to the sport after suffering what he did. But that is exactly what makes Woods different from everybody else.
Written by: Leon Osamor
