Tiger Woods capped an encouraging return to US PGA Tour action with an even-par 72 on Sunday at the Farmers Insurance Open.

The former world number one was tied for 27th when he walked off his final green, the par-five ninth, on a Torrey Pines South Course where Woods&#39;s eight victories include his 14th and most recent major title at the 2008 US Open.

&quot;Today I played a lot better,&quot; said Woods, who had four birdies and four bogeys in a round that gave him a three-under-par total of 285.

&quot;It was tough conditions out there,&quot; he added of the gusting winds. &quot;It was tough scoring.&quot;

Woods was playing his first US tour event since missing the cut at Torrey Pines last year.

He had missed all of 2016 with back trouble, and his comeback bid last year was cut short by recurring pain and spinal fusion surgery in April.

Woods hit just 17 of 56 greens all week, but he displayed a deft touch around the greens and solid putting to bring it in under par.

Most importantly, there was no sign of any back trouble as he looks ahead to his next scheduled start at Riviera in Los Angeles February 15-18.

Solid four days

&quot;Very pleased,&quot; said Woods, who hadn&#39;t made the cut in a PGA Tour event since his tie for 10th at the Wyndham Championship in August of 2015.

&quot;After not playing for a couple of years to come out here on the Tour and really play a solid four days -- I fought hard for these scores.&quot;

Woods said before the tournament that his expectations were &quot;tempered.&quot;

But after rounds of 72-71-70, he said he went out Sunday -- clad in his traditional final-round red and black -- with an ambitious number in mind.

&quot;I wanted to shoot something around 65 -- thought that would be a playoff number,&quot; Woods said.

For the first time all week, Woods put his opening tee shot in the fairway en route to a par at the 10th.

Although he again hit just three of 14 fairways, Woods&#39;s misses weren&#39;t as wild as those of Friday and Saturday.

A birdie chance at 13 went begging when an over-eager fan in the immense gallery following Woods yelled as he stroked his 10-footer.

But Woods, clearly angry, shook it off to roll in a 12-footer for birdie at 14.

That launched a sequence of birdie-bogey-birdie-bogey-birdie, with Woods rolling in a five-footer at the 18th.

He reached five-under for the tournament -- and broke into the top 20 on the leaderboard -- with a birdie at the second before two bogeys coming home.

&quot;I&#39;m excited to get this one under my belt,&quot; said Woods, adding that until his next start he&#39;ll be working on &quot;everything.&quot;

As Woods wrapped up his round, Sweden&#39;s Alex Noren was clinging to the lead on 12-under par through 11 holes, with former world number one Jason Day, Ryan Palmer and J.B. Holmes all at 11-under on the back nine.

&nbsp;

He had missed all of 2016 with back trouble, and his comeback bid last year was cut short by recurring pain and spinal fusion surgery in April

Tiger Woods capped an encouraging return to US PGA Tour action with an even-par 72 on Sunday at the Farmers Insurance Open. The former world number one was tied for 27th when he walked off his final green, the par-five ninth, on a Torrey Pines South Course where Woods's eight victories include his 14th and most recent major title at the 2008 US Open. "Today I played a lot better," said Woods, who had four birdies and four bogeys in a round that gave him a three-under-par total of 285. "It was tough conditions out there," he added of the gusting winds. "It was tough scoring." Woods was playing his first US tour event since missing the cut at Torrey Pines last year. He had missed all of 2016 with back trouble, and his comeback bid last year was cut short by recurring pain and spinal fusion surgery in April. Woods hit just 17 of 56 greens all week, but he displayed a deft touch around the greens and solid putting to bring it in under par. Most importantly, there was no sign of any back trouble as he looks ahead to his next scheduled start at Riviera in Los Angeles February 15-18. Solid four days "Very pleased," said Woods, who hadn't made the cut in a PGA Tour event since his tie for 10th at the Wyndham Championship in August of 2015. "After not playing for a couple of years to come out here on the Tour and really play a solid four days -- I fought hard for these scores." Woods said before the tournament that his expectations were "tempered." But after rounds of 72-71-70, he said he went out Sunday -- clad in his traditional final-round red and black -- with an ambitious number in mind. "I wanted to shoot something around 65 -- thought that would be a playoff number," Woods said. For the first time all week, Woods put his opening tee shot in the fairway en route to a par at the 10th. Although he again hit just three of 14 fairways, Woods's misses weren't as wild as those of Friday and Saturday. A birdie chance at 13 went begging when an over-eager fan in the immense gallery following Woods yelled as he stroked his 10-footer. But Woods, clearly angry, shook it off to roll in a 12-footer for birdie at 14. That launched a sequence of birdie-bogey-birdie-bogey-birdie, with Woods rolling in a five-footer at the 18th. He reached five-under for the tournament -- and broke into the top 20 on the leaderboard -- with a birdie at the second before two bogeys coming home. "I'm excited to get this one under my belt," said Woods, adding that until his next start he'll be working on "everything." As Woods wrapped up his round, Sweden's Alex Noren was clinging to the lead on 12-under par through 11 holes, with former world number one Jason Day, Ryan Palmer and J.B. Holmes all at 11-under on the back nine.

Golf: 'Pleased' Woods seals return with even par 72

Ace golfer Tiger Woods decided to end his working relationship with swing coach Chris Como, opting instead to fly solo in his latest comeback from injury.

The two were together for almost three-years.&nbsp;

Woods returned to competition three weeks ago after a nearly 10-month layoff due to his spinal fusion surgery.

&quot;Since my fusion surgery, I have been working hard to relearn my own body and golf swing. I`ve done this by primarily relying on my feel and previous years of hard work with Chris,&quot; the 41-year-old golfer. &nbsp;

&quot;For now, I think it&#39;s best for me to continue to do this on my own. I&#39;m grateful to Chris Como for his past work, and I have nothing but respect for him,&quot; Tiger added.

The 14-times major champion worked with swing coach Butch Harmon to begin his professional career, then switched to Hank Haney in 2004. Woods jumped to Sean Foley in 2010, whom he worked with for four years. 
&nbsp;

The two share a working relationship of almost three-years.?

Ace golfer Tiger Woods decided to end his working relationship with swing coach Chris Como, opting instead to fly solo in his latest comeback from injury. The two were together for almost three-years. Woods returned to competition three weeks ago after a nearly 10-month layoff due to his spinal fusion surgery. "Since my fusion surgery, I have been working hard to relearn my own body and golf swing. I`ve done this by primarily relying on my feel and previous years of hard work with Chris," the 41-year-old golfer. "For now, I think it's best for me to continue to do this on my own. I'm grateful to Chris Como for his past work, and I have nothing but respect for him," Tiger added. The 14-times major champion worked with swing coach Butch Harmon to begin his professional career, then switched to Hank Haney in 2004. Woods jumped to Sean Foley in 2010, whom he worked with for four years.

Tiger Woods parts ways with swing coach Chris Como

Tiger Woods dazzled in his much-anticipated return from injury on Thursday at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas where the former world number one flashed a fist pump and did not seem bothered by his troublesome back.

Woods, competing for the first time after a near 10-month layoff during which he had spinal fusion surgery, appeared pain-free at the Albany course on the island of New Providence where he mixed five birdies with two bogeys for a three-under-par 69.

That left him in a four-way share of eighth place and three shots behind Britain&#39;s Tommy Fleetwood after the first round of the elite 18-man event featuring eight of the world&#39;s top 10.

&quot;I didn`t know what I could do,&quot; Woods told Golf Channel. &quot;I&#39;ve been playing a lot of holes at home, but it&#39;s a little different when you have to tee it up in a tournament.&quot;

Woods, who two months ago said he was only hitting 60-yard shots, drove mostly well off the tee, made some solid putts and impressive par saves but at times also let out expletives and slammed his club in frustration. 
 
Riding high after a pair of consecutive birdies, Woods was two shots off the lead at the par-five 15th hole when his tee shot sailed far right. He took a drop and went on to two-putt for his second bogey of the day. 
 
From there he went on to close out with a trio of pars to cap a round that showed, perhaps, that the 14-times major champion still has plenty left.

Missed putts

After narrowly missing birdie putts on his opening two holes Woods hit his approach shot at the par-five third to about 40 feet and went on to tap in for birdie. 
 
On the next hole Woods caught his chip heavy and was left with a 15-footer from just off the green from where he coolly rolled his ball into the middle of the cup for par before pumping his right fist to the delight of the cheering gallery.

Woods, who turns 42 on December 30, delivered a more subdued fist pump at the par-three eighth where he rolled in a 25-foot birdie putt after his tee shot settled on the edge of the green. 
Playing alongside friend and FedExCup champion Justin Thomas, Woods, dressed in black with a white hat, showed his first bit of frustration at the par-five ninth when, after failing to reach the green in two, he made a mess of a chip.

Despite being about 30 feet from the cup after two shots Woods settled for his first bogey of the day to reach the turn in one-under 35. 
Woods responded nicely with a birdie from 15 feet at the next hole.

Best chip

After his tee shot at the par-three 12th sailed wide right and into rough, Woods promptly slammed his club to the ground but quickly calmed down and delivered perhaps his best chip of the day to within four feet for a solid up and down.

He carried that momentum to the next hole where he rolled in his fourth birdie of the day, this time from 22 feet. Woods laid up off the tee at the par-four 14th, then delivered a stunning wedge shot from 88 yards that settled about two feet from the cup, leading to his second consecutive birdie. It appeared that Woods was about to make a charge to the top of the leaderboard at this point until his errant tee shot at 15 took the wind out of his sails.

&quot;I felt rusty starting after a month and half (off) so I can&#39;t imagine what it felt like for him,&quot; said Thomas, who also carded a 69.&nbsp;

&quot;He played well. I truly felt like he was going to play well just from when we played and then practice around here.&quot;

A 79-times winner on the PGA Tour who was world number one for a record 683 weeks, Woods lost form in recent years due to injuries and his ranking has plummeted to 1,199th.

This marks the second consecutive season that Woods has made his return to action at the tournament after a lengthy absence. He finished 15th in the 17-man field 12 months ago after a 15-month layoff. Woods then missed the cut at Torrey Pines in January and withdrew from the Dubai Desert Classic the following week because of a back spasm.

Woods competed at the Hero World Challengefor the first time after a near 10-month layoff during which he had spinal fusion surgery.

Tiger Woods dazzled in his much-anticipated return from injury on Thursday at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas where the former world number one flashed a fist pump and did not seem bothered by his troublesome back. Woods, competing for the first time after a near 10-month layoff during which he had spinal fusion surgery, appeared pain-free at the Albany course on the island of New Providence where he mixed five birdies with two bogeys for a three-under-par 69. That left him in a four-way share of eighth place and three shots behind Britain's Tommy Fleetwood after the first round of the elite 18-man event featuring eight of the world's top 10. "I didn`t know what I could do," Woods told Golf Channel. "I've been playing a lot of holes at home, but it's a little different when you have to tee it up in a tournament." Woods, who two months ago said he was only hitting 60-yard shots, drove mostly well off the tee, made some solid putts and impressive par saves but at times also let out expletives and slammed his club in frustration. Riding high after a pair of consecutive birdies, Woods was two shots off the lead at the par-five 15th hole when his tee shot sailed far right. He took a drop and went on to two-putt for his second bogey of the day. From there he went on to close out with a trio of pars to cap a round that showed, perhaps, that the 14-times major champion still has plenty left. Missed putts After narrowly missing birdie putts on his opening two holes Woods hit his approach shot at the par-five third to about 40 feet and went on to tap in for birdie. On the next hole Woods caught his chip heavy and was left with a 15-footer from just off the green from where he coolly rolled his ball into the middle of the cup for par before pumping his right fist to the delight of the cheering gallery. Woods, who turns 42 on December 30, delivered a more subdued fist pump at the par-three eighth where he rolled in a 25-foot birdie putt after his tee shot settled on the edge of the green. Playing alongside friend and FedExCup champion Justin Thomas, Woods, dressed in black with a white hat, showed his first bit of frustration at the par-five ninth when, after failing to reach the green in two, he made a mess of a chip. Despite being about 30 feet from the cup after two shots Woods settled for his first bogey of the day to reach the turn in one-under 35. Woods responded nicely with a birdie from 15 feet at the next hole. Best chip After his tee shot at the par-three 12th sailed wide right and into rough, Woods promptly slammed his club to the ground but quickly calmed down and delivered perhaps his best chip of the day to within four feet for a solid up and down. He carried that momentum to the next hole where he rolled in his fourth birdie of the day, this time from 22 feet. Woods laid up off the tee at the par-four 14th, then delivered a stunning wedge shot from 88 yards that settled about two feet from the cup, leading to his second consecutive birdie. It appeared that Woods was about to make a charge to the top of the leaderboard at this point until his errant tee shot at 15 took the wind out of his sails. "I felt rusty starting after a month and half (off) so I can't imagine what it felt like for him," said Thomas, who also carded a 69. "He played well. I truly felt like he was going to play well just from when we played and then practice around here." A 79-times winner on the PGA Tour who was world number one for a record 683 weeks, Woods lost form in recent years due to injuries and his ranking has plummeted to 1,199th. This marks the second consecutive season that Woods has made his return to action at the tournament after a lengthy absence. He finished 15th in the 17-man field 12 months ago after a 15-month layoff. Woods then missed the cut at Torrey Pines in January and withdrew from the Dubai Desert Classic the following week because of a back spasm.

Tiger Woods dazzles in long-awaited return from injury

Former world number one golfer Tiger Woods had five different drugs in his system when he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in May, according to an ESPN report on Monday.

ESPN, which cited a copy of the toxicology report, said Woods had Hydrocodone, the generic form of a painkiller branded as Vicodin; Hydromorphone, a painkiller known as Dilaudid; Alprazolam, a mood and sleep drug known as Xanax; Zolpidem, a sleep drug known as Ambien; and Delta-9 carboxy THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, in his system.

It is not known if Woods had prescriptions for all of the medications. Medical marijuana is legal in Florida.

Woods, who is second on the all-time list with 14 major titles, checked into a clinic in June for treatment to help deal with prescription drugs.

He said last month he had completed treatment.

&quot;As I previously said, I received professional help to manage my medications,&quot; Woods said in a statement.

&quot;Recently, I had been trying on my own to treat my back pain and a sleep disorder, including insomnia, but I realise now it was a mistake to do this without medical assistance.

&quot;I am continuing to work with my doctors, and they feel I&#39;ve made significant progress. I remain grateful for the amazing support that I continue to receive and for the family and friends that are assisting me.&quot;

Police found Woods stopped on the side of a Palm Beach-area road in his Mercedes-Benz at about 3 a.m. (0700 GMT) on May 29.

He had &quot;extremely slow and slurred speech&quot; after being awakened by a police officer but was cooperative and told officers he takes several prescriptions, including Xanax, according to a police report.

Woods, who had been heading away from his home, could not remember where he was going and told police he was returning from Los Angeles.

A blood test showed he had the painkiller Vicodin and the antidepressant Xanax in his system but no alcohol. He was charged with driving under the influence and improperly stopping his vehicle.

In a statement after his arrest, Woods apologised to fans and blamed the incident on prescription medication he was taking to manage pain from a recent back surgery.

In a statement after his arrest, Woods apologised to fans and blamed the incident on prescription medication he was taking to manage pain from a recent back surgery

Former world number one golfer Tiger Woods had five different drugs in his system when he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in May, according to an ESPN report on Monday. ESPN, which cited a copy of the toxicology report, said Woods had Hydrocodone, the generic form of a painkiller branded as Vicodin; Hydromorphone, a painkiller known as Dilaudid; Alprazolam, a mood and sleep drug known as Xanax; Zolpidem, a sleep drug known as Ambien; and Delta-9 carboxy THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, in his system. It is not known if Woods had prescriptions for all of the medications. Medical marijuana is legal in Florida. Woods, who is second on the all-time list with 14 major titles, checked into a clinic in June for treatment to help deal with prescription drugs. He said last month he had completed treatment. "As I previously said, I received professional help to manage my medications," Woods said in a statement. "Recently, I had been trying on my own to treat my back pain and a sleep disorder, including insomnia, but I realise now it was a mistake to do this without medical assistance. "I am continuing to work with my doctors, and they feel I've made significant progress. I remain grateful for the amazing support that I continue to receive and for the family and friends that are assisting me." Police found Woods stopped on the side of a Palm Beach-area road in his Mercedes-Benz at about 3 a.m. (0700 GMT) on May 29. He had "extremely slow and slurred speech" after being awakened by a police officer but was cooperative and told officers he takes several prescriptions, including Xanax, according to a police report. Woods, who had been heading away from his home, could not remember where he was going and told police he was returning from Los Angeles. A blood test showed he had the painkiller Vicodin and the antidepressant Xanax in his system but no alcohol. He was charged with driving under the influence and improperly stopping his vehicle. In a statement after his arrest, Woods apologised to fans and blamed the incident on prescription medication he was taking to manage pain from a recent back surgery.

Woods had five drugs in system at time of DUI arrest: Report

Tiger Woods has said that he is getting &quot;professional help&quot; to help manage the medications he is taking for back pain and insomnia.&nbsp;

Woods was arrested for driving while intoxicated last month.

The golfer was found asleep at the wheel in Florida, but tested negative for alcohol.

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By TW <a href="https://t.co/AuX6PEgNQ1">pic.twitter.com/AuX6PEgNQ1</a>
&mdash; Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) <a href="https://twitter.com/TigerWoods/status/876945223506636801">June 19, 2017</a></blockquote>
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He later released a statement saying he had experienced an unexpected reaction to prescription medicines.&nbsp;

&quot;I&#39;m currently receiving professional help to manage my medications and the ways that I deal with back pain and a sleep disorder,&quot; Woods wrote on Twitter on Monday.

&quot;I want to thank everyone for their amazing outpouring of support and understanding especially the fans and players on tour.&quot;

&nbsp;

Woods was arrested for driving while intoxicated last month

Tiger Woods has said that he is getting "professional help" to help manage the medications he is taking for back pain and insomnia. Woods was arrested for driving while intoxicated last month. The golfer was found asleep at the wheel in Florida, but tested negative for alcohol. By TW pic.twitter.com/AuX6PEgNQ1 — Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) June 19, 2017 × He later released a statement saying he had experienced an unexpected reaction to prescription medicines. "I'm currently receiving professional help to manage my medications and the ways that I deal with back pain and a sleep disorder," Woods wrote on Twitter on Monday. "I want to thank everyone for their amazing outpouring of support and understanding especially the fans and players on tour."

Tiger Woods says he's getting 'professional help'

The marketability of&nbsp;Tiger&nbsp;Woods will suffer following his arrest for driving under the influence, but the former world number one golfer&#39;s current sponsors will likely stay by his side, according to experts.

Woods, who had surgery in April to relieve back pain, blamed the incident on prescription drugs, but that was not enough to keep his droopy-eyed mug shot from being etched in the minds of many who were once captivated by his dominance on the course.

Still, despite his struggles on and off the course, Woods is the greatest golfer of his generation and sponsors like Nike, Bridgestone Golf, Monster Energy and TaylorMade are not likely to rush and cut ties with him, marketing experts told Reuters.

&quot;They have to be very measured in terms of their response to their relation with him,&quot; said David Carter, professor of sports business at the University of Southern California&#39;s Marshal School of Business.

&quot;He may not be delivering value but you could also be doing harm to your own brand if you cut and run on a guy with such global notoriety.&quot;

Woods is second on the all-time list with 14 major titles but a player whose famous fist pump and beaming smile were once a regular site on the PGA Tour has lost his form and barely played in recent years.

Most of his sponsors, when asked by Reuters if they would review their agreements with Woods in light of Monday&#39;s DUI arrest, either did not respond to requests for comment or said it was inappropriate to do so at this time.

Bridgestone Golf, however, said they &quot;will continue to monitor this situation and gather information from the appropriate sources investigating the matter.&quot;

But details of the arrest report which stated, among other things, that Woods was asleep at the wheel of a parked car with the engine running and was disoriented when woken up by a police officer, cannot be sitting well with sponsors.

And with Woods expected to miss the rest of the 2016-17 PGA Tour season after back surgery, his level of appeal to companies may be at an all-time low.

&quot;You can overcome a DUI if you are a big enough star and you keep winning,&quot; said Bob Dorfman, creative director of Baker Street Advertising in San Francisco.

&quot;But you can&#39;t overcome not being on the course for months, not winning championships and being pretty much a non entity in the golf world. And that&#39;s what&nbsp;Tiger&nbsp;has become and the prospects don&#39;t look very promising for him.&quot;

This is not the first time Woods has made headlines away from the course. In 2009, a sex scandal turned his previously unblemished life and career upside down.

It also cost Woods a number of endorsement deals, while other sponsors shifted away from using him in marketing but did not end their contracts with him.

Woods could see a similar reaction this time around.

&quot;He&#39;s not playing, he&#39;s not winning and so he has less chips to play with, if you will, in the endorsement game so that clearly makes it even more difficult for him,&quot; said George Belch, marketing professor at San Diego State University.

&quot;But you are still talking about an extremely high profile athlete here who transcended sports in many ways even if his baggage has clearly gotten bigger through the years.&quot;

While the arrest report showed Woods had no alcohol in his system, results of a urine test that have not been released will go a long way in determining Woods&#39; marketability.

Andrew Zimbalist, an economics professor at Smith College in Massachusetts, said sponsors will likely cut ties with Woods should the results show he was lying.

&quot;The main issue is whether&nbsp;Tiger&#39;s story is accurate. If indeed he is taking multiple medicines and they interacted with each other and knocked him out and he didn&#39;t anticipate it then I think he fully recovers,&quot; said Zimbalist.

&quot;Another part of his ability to rebound and what happens to his legacy is going to be determined by how he comes back as a golfer and nobody knows the answer to that, probably not even&nbsp;Tiger&nbsp;himself.&quot;

(Reuters)

The former world number one was arrested for driving under the influence, though the police stated that he cleared the breath test

The marketability of Tiger Woods will suffer following his arrest for driving under the influence, but the former world number one golfer's current sponsors will likely stay by his side, according to experts. Woods, who had surgery in April to relieve back pain, blamed the incident on prescription drugs, but that was not enough to keep his droopy-eyed mug shot from being etched in the minds of many who were once captivated by his dominance on the course. Still, despite his struggles on and off the course, Woods is the greatest golfer of his generation and sponsors like Nike, Bridgestone Golf, Monster Energy and TaylorMade are not likely to rush and cut ties with him, marketing experts told Reuters. "They have to be very measured in terms of their response to their relation with him," said David Carter, professor of sports business at the University of Southern California's Marshal School of Business. "He may not be delivering value but you could also be doing harm to your own brand if you cut and run on a guy with such global notoriety." Woods is second on the all-time list with 14 major titles but a player whose famous fist pump and beaming smile were once a regular site on the PGA Tour has lost his form and barely played in recent years. Most of his sponsors, when asked by Reuters if they would review their agreements with Woods in light of Monday's DUI arrest, either did not respond to requests for comment or said it was inappropriate to do so at this time. Bridgestone Golf, however, said they "will continue to monitor this situation and gather information from the appropriate sources investigating the matter." But details of the arrest report which stated, among other things, that Woods was asleep at the wheel of a parked car with the engine running and was disoriented when woken up by a police officer, cannot be sitting well with sponsors. And with Woods expected to miss the rest of the 2016-17 PGA Tour season after back surgery, his level of appeal to companies may be at an all-time low. "You can overcome a DUI if you are a big enough star and you keep winning," said Bob Dorfman, creative director of Baker Street Advertising in San Francisco. "But you can't overcome not being on the course for months, not winning championships and being pretty much a non entity in the golf world. And that's what Tiger has become and the prospects don't look very promising for him." This is not the first time Woods has made headlines away from the course. In 2009, a sex scandal turned his previously unblemished life and career upside down. It also cost Woods a number of endorsement deals, while other sponsors shifted away from using him in marketing but did not end their contracts with him. Woods could see a similar reaction this time around. "He's not playing, he's not winning and so he has less chips to play with, if you will, in the endorsement game so that clearly makes it even more difficult for him," said George Belch, marketing professor at San Diego State University. "But you are still talking about an extremely high profile athlete here who transcended sports in many ways even if his baggage has clearly gotten bigger through the years." While the arrest report showed Woods had no alcohol in his system, results of a urine test that have not been released will go a long way in determining Woods' marketability. Andrew Zimbalist, an economics professor at Smith College in Massachusetts, said sponsors will likely cut ties with Woods should the results show he was lying. "The main issue is whether Tiger's story is accurate. If indeed he is taking multiple medicines and they interacted with each other and knocked him out and he didn't anticipate it then I think he fully recovers," said Zimbalist. "Another part of his ability to rebound and what happens to his legacy is going to be determined by how he comes back as a golfer and nobody knows the answer to that, probably not even Tiger himself." (Reuters)

Tiger Woods' image takes a hit, but sponsors remain loyal

Tiger Woods apologised on Monday for his driving under the influence arrest, insisting that alcohol was not involved in the late-night incident.

In a statement sent to USA Today, Woods, who was pulled over by police in Florida in the early hours of Monday, blamed the incident on a bad reaction to prescription medication.

&quot;I understand the severity of what I did and I take full responsibility for my actions,&quot; Woods said in the statement.&nbsp;

&quot;I want the public to know that alcohol was not involved,&quot; the former world number one added.

&quot;What happened was an unexpected reaction to prescribed medications. I didn&#39;t realize the mix of medications had affected me so strongly,&quot; the 41-year-old added.

&quot;I would like to apologize with all my heart to my family, friends and the fans. I expect more from myself too.&quot;

The 14-time major winner was arrested by police in the early hours of Monday near his home in Jupiter, Florida.

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Here&#39;s Tiger Woods&#39; mugshot after his arrest on DUI charge <a href="https://t.co/d6f8CpOIc5">pic.twitter.com/d6f8CpOIc5</a>
&mdash; Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) <a href="https://twitter.com/BraddJaffy/status/869215305473683456">May 29, 2017</a></blockquote>
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He&nbsp;was released at 10:50 am (1450 GMT) according to police records, with a mugshot posted online showing the golfer looking bleary-eyed and unshaven.

The traffic stop took place around 3:00 am, Jupiter Police Department spokeswoman Kristin Rightler said.&nbsp;

(AFP)

Woods, a former top-ranked golfer who is second on the all-time list with 14 major titles, was taken into custody around 3 am (0700 GMT) for driving under influence

Tiger Woods apologised on Monday for his driving under the influence arrest, insisting that alcohol was not involved in the late-night incident. In a statement sent to USA Today, Woods, who was pulled over by police in Florida in the early hours of Monday, blamed the incident on a bad reaction to prescription medication. "I understand the severity of what I did and I take full responsibility for my actions," Woods said in the statement. "I want the public to know that alcohol was not involved," the former world number one added. "What happened was an unexpected reaction to prescribed medications. I didn't realize the mix of medications had affected me so strongly," the 41-year-old added. "I would like to apologize with all my heart to my family, friends and the fans. I expect more from myself too." The 14-time major winner was arrested by police in the early hours of Monday near his home in Jupiter, Florida. Here's Tiger Woods' mugshot after his arrest on DUI charge pic.twitter.com/d6f8CpOIc5 — Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) May 29, 2017 × He was released at 10:50 am (1450 GMT) according to police records, with a mugshot posted online showing the golfer looking bleary-eyed and unshaven. The traffic stop took place around 3:00 am, Jupiter Police Department spokeswoman Kristin Rightler said. (AFP)

Tiger Woods says sorry for DUI charge, blames prescription medication

Tiger Woods was found asleep at the wheel of his car when he was arrested for driving under the influence but passed a roadside breath test, police records showed Tuesday.

The golf superstar, who issued a statement on Monday saying alcohol was not involved in the incident, needed to be woken by a police officer, his arrest report showed.

The former world number one has blamed the DUI arrest near his home in Jupiter, Florida on an adverse reaction to prescription medication.

His police report, obtained and published by several media outlets, said Woods was &quot;co-operative&quot; and &quot;confused.&quot;

&quot;Woods had extremely slow and slurred speech,&quot; the report said.

He initially told officers he had been driving back to Florida from Los Angeles but later stated &quot;he did not know where he was.&quot;

He was unable to complete various roadside sobriety tests which included standing on one leg and the &quot;walk and turn&quot; test.

However contrary to reports on Monday which said Woods refused a breathalyzer test, the golfer agreed and &quot;blew zeroes&quot; indicating there was no alcohol in his system.

Woods also told police he had been using four prescription medications including the powerful painkiller Vicodin, which is commonly prescribed following surgery.

Woods has undergone four separate surgeries on his back since 2014, with the most recent procedure taking place in late April.

The 41-year-old was arrested by police near his home in Jupiter, Florida, around 3:00 am (0700 GMT) before his release later Monday after being charged with DUI.

A police mugshot of Woods looking bleary-eyed and unshaven rapidly went viral, underscoring the fall from grace of the superstar athlete once renowned as a clean-living, corporate pitchman.

&quot;I would like to apologize with all my heart to my family, friends and the fans. I expect more from myself too,&quot; Woods said in a statement issued on Monday.

The arrest is the latest gloomy episode to hit the 14-time major winner, who once towered over his sport before being engulfed by turmoil in his private life and a series of debilitating injuries.&nbsp;

His return from a year-long injury layoff was cut short in February when he pulled out of the Dubai Desert Classic after the first round because of back pain.

(AFP)

The police found the former world number one asleep at the wheel and was 'confused' when woken up

Tiger Woods was found asleep at the wheel of his car when he was arrested for driving under the influence but passed a roadside breath test, police records showed Tuesday. The golf superstar, who issued a statement on Monday saying alcohol was not involved in the incident, needed to be woken by a police officer, his arrest report showed. The former world number one has blamed the DUI arrest near his home in Jupiter, Florida on an adverse reaction to prescription medication. His police report, obtained and published by several media outlets, said Woods was "co-operative" and "confused." "Woods had extremely slow and slurred speech," the report said. He initially told officers he had been driving back to Florida from Los Angeles but later stated "he did not know where he was." He was unable to complete various roadside sobriety tests which included standing on one leg and the "walk and turn" test. However contrary to reports on Monday which said Woods refused a breathalyzer test, the golfer agreed and "blew zeroes" indicating there was no alcohol in his system. Woods also told police he had been using four prescription medications including the powerful painkiller Vicodin, which is commonly prescribed following surgery. Woods has undergone four separate surgeries on his back since 2014, with the most recent procedure taking place in late April. The 41-year-old was arrested by police near his home in Jupiter, Florida, around 3:00 am (0700 GMT) before his release later Monday after being charged with DUI. A police mugshot of Woods looking bleary-eyed and unshaven rapidly went viral, underscoring the fall from grace of the superstar athlete once renowned as a clean-living, corporate pitchman. "I would like to apologize with all my heart to my family, friends and the fans. I expect more from myself too," Woods said in a statement issued on Monday. The arrest is the latest gloomy episode to hit the 14-time major winner, who once towered over his sport before being engulfed by turmoil in his private life and a series of debilitating injuries. His return from a year-long injury layoff was cut short in February when he pulled out of the Dubai Desert Classic after the first round because of back pain. (AFP)

Golf legend Tiger Woods passed breath test, say police

Tiger Woods announced Friday he had lost his battle to be fit for the Masters, saying he was &quot;not tournament ready&quot; for the first major of the year and did not have a timetable for his return.

Woods, whose 14 major titles include four Masters green jackets, has not played since withdrawing from the Dubai Desert Classic on February 3 with ongoing back spasms.

He made his comeback in December after missing all of the 2015-16 season following back surgery.

&quot;Unfortunately, I won&#39;t be competing in this year&#39;s Masters,&quot; Woods said on his website. &quot;I did about everything I could to play, but my back rehabilitation didn&#39;t allow me the time to get tournament ready.

&quot;I&#39;m especially upset because it&#39;s a special anniversary for me that&#39;s filled with a lot of great memories. I can&#39;t believe it&#39;s been 20 years since I won my first green jacket.&quot;

Woods&#39; historic 1997 victory at Augusta National, when he was 21 years old, was a watershed for golf. He became the first black golfer to win a major, the youngest to capture the Masters and he shattered records in winning by 12 strokes with an 18-under par total.

The out-sized triumph fueled &quot;Tigermania&quot; and even as his health woes have piled up and his on-course performances diminished he remains a massive drawing card.

&quot;I have no timetable for my return, but I will continue my diligent effort to recover, and want to get back out there as soon as possible,&quot; said Woods, who added that he would be in Augusta, Georgia, to attend the annual pre-tournament Champions Dinner.

&quot;Augusta National has been a very important place to me and my family for over 20 years, and while I&#39;m disappointed, it will be good to be back there Tuesday,&quot; said Woods, whose last major title came at the 2008 US Open.

(AFP)

Fourteen-time major winner Tiger Woods gave no timetable for his return to competitive golf

Tiger Woods announced Friday he had lost his battle to be fit for the Masters, saying he was "not tournament ready" for the first major of the year and did not have a timetable for his return. Woods, whose 14 major titles include four Masters green jackets, has not played since withdrawing from the Dubai Desert Classic on February 3 with ongoing back spasms. He made his comeback in December after missing all of the 2015-16 season following back surgery. "Unfortunately, I won't be competing in this year's Masters," Woods said on his website. "I did about everything I could to play, but my back rehabilitation didn't allow me the time to get tournament ready. "I'm especially upset because it's a special anniversary for me that's filled with a lot of great memories. I can't believe it's been 20 years since I won my first green jacket." Woods' historic 1997 victory at Augusta National, when he was 21 years old, was a watershed for golf. He became the first black golfer to win a major, the youngest to capture the Masters and he shattered records in winning by 12 strokes with an 18-under par total. The out-sized triumph fueled "Tigermania" and even as his health woes have piled up and his on-course performances diminished he remains a massive drawing card. "I have no timetable for my return, but I will continue my diligent effort to recover, and want to get back out there as soon as possible," said Woods, who added that he would be in Augusta, Georgia, to attend the annual pre-tournament Champions Dinner. "Augusta National has been a very important place to me and my family for over 20 years, and while I'm disappointed, it will be good to be back there Tuesday," said Woods, whose last major title came at the 2008 US Open. (AFP)

Rusty Woods to skip next week's US Masters

Golf rulemakers The R&amp;A and United States Golf Association (USGA) on Wednesday unveiled a radical set of new rule proposals they hope will simplify the game and also speed up play.

The two bodies have eliminated many penalties including being penalised for accidentally moving your ball marker on the green and reduced the number of rules from 34 to 24.

The R&amp;A is seeking feedback on the proposals until the end of August, with any amendments to be made before the new rules come into effect from January 1, 2019.

With regards to speeding up the game one of the proposals is for reducing the search time for lost balls from five minutes to three, whilst allowing players to drop a ball from any height when taking relief, rather than shoulder-height as is the case at the moment.

&quot;We are really about modernising the rules of golf and, in very simple terms, trying to make them easier to understand and apply,&quot; David Rickman, the R&amp;A&#39;s executive director, governance, told Press Association Sport.

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&quot;The concern was that, over time and despite our best efforts, the rules have grown in length and complexity and therefore have become confusing and intimidating.&quot;

One area which may provoke a heated debate -- especially on the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tour, where it is most prevalent -- is forbidding caddies to help players line up putts.

&quot;Even though it may be unpopular in some parts of the game, a reinforcement of player skill and judgement was important,&quot; said Rickman.

Another measure designed to speed up a round is professionals will not have to repair spike marks made by their boots and one of the generally regarded unfairer rules where a player was penalised for being struck by their ball has been recommeended to be discarded.

The removal of the obligation of dropping balls from shoulder-height will prevent 10-minute hold-ups -- as was the case last year with Jordan Spieth at the US PGA Championship.

&quot;That took longer because of the intricacy involved and the ability for players to be more precise means this can be sped up,&quot; Rickman added.

&quot;The dropping process can be quite lengthy. You can have a very small dropping area and every time you miss it, that drop doesn&#39;t count and you need to re-drop if it rolls to any of nine specific places.&quot;

Video reviews will still be used to determine if rules have been breached, but not to &quot;second guess&quot; players who need to estimate where a ball may have entered or last crossed a hazard.

&quot;We expect players to use all reasonable judgement and in those circumstances, if that proves to be wrong, as long as they acted reasonably we would not be seeking to punish based on later evidence,&quot; Rickman said.

(AFP)

Golf rulemakers R&A and the USGA unveiled a radical set of rule proposals Wednesday

Golf rulemakers The R&A and United States Golf Association (USGA) on Wednesday unveiled a radical set of new rule proposals they hope will simplify the game and also speed up play. The two bodies have eliminated many penalties including being penalised for accidentally moving your ball marker on the green and reduced the number of rules from 34 to 24. The R&A is seeking feedback on the proposals until the end of August, with any amendments to be made before the new rules come into effect from January 1, 2019. With regards to speeding up the game one of the proposals is for reducing the search time for lost balls from five minutes to three, whilst allowing players to drop a ball from any height when taking relief, rather than shoulder-height as is the case at the moment. "We are really about modernising the rules of golf and, in very simple terms, trying to make them easier to understand and apply," David Rickman, the R&A's executive director, governance, told Press Association Sport. The R&A is seeking feedback on the proposals until the end of August, with any amendments to be made before the new rules come into effect from January 1, 2019 × "The concern was that, over time and despite our best efforts, the rules have grown in length and complexity and therefore have become confusing and intimidating." One area which may provoke a heated debate -- especially on the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tour, where it is most prevalent -- is forbidding caddies to help players line up putts. "Even though it may be unpopular in some parts of the game, a reinforcement of player skill and judgement was important," said Rickman. Another measure designed to speed up a round is professionals will not have to repair spike marks made by their boots and one of the generally regarded unfairer rules where a player was penalised for being struck by their ball has been recommeended to be discarded. The removal of the obligation of dropping balls from shoulder-height will prevent 10-minute hold-ups -- as was the case last year with Jordan Spieth at the US PGA Championship. "That took longer because of the intricacy involved and the ability for players to be more precise means this can be sped up," Rickman added. "The dropping process can be quite lengthy. You can have a very small dropping area and every time you miss it, that drop doesn't count and you need to re-drop if it rolls to any of nine specific places." Video reviews will still be used to determine if rules have been breached, but not to "second guess" players who need to estimate where a ball may have entered or last crossed a hazard. "We expect players to use all reasonable judgement and in those circumstances, if that proves to be wrong, as long as they acted reasonably we would not be seeking to punish based on later evidence," Rickman said. (AFP)

New rules proposed hope to make golf simpler, faster

Tiger Woods&#39; long-awaited PGA Tour comeback came to a premature end on Friday after the former world number one missed the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open.

Woods had started the day at Torrey Pines Golf Course needing a low second round score to extend his participation into the weekend after a wayward four-over-par first round 76 on Thursday.

But despite perfect conditions on Torrey Pines&#39; more forgiving North Course, Woods again struggled to generate any momentum, carding a level par 72 which left him four-over after 36 holes.

With the cut line projected at level par, Woods was left revising his plans for the weekend after a disappointing outing in his first PGA Tour event since August 2015.

&quot;It&#39;s frustrating, not being able to have a chance to win the tournament,&quot; Woods told reporters afterwards. &quot;I didn&#39;t make the cut.&quot;

Woods, who now heads to the Gulf for the Omega Dubai Desert Classic next week, took comfort from signs of improvement following his erratic opening round.

&quot;Overall today was a lot better than yesterday. I hit it better, I putted well again,&quot; Woods said.

&quot;I hit a lot of beautiful putts that didn&#39;t go in. But I hit it a lot better today which was nice,&quot; Woods said, adding that he will only get sharper after playing more tournaments.

&quot;Playing tournament golf is a bit different to playing with your buddies in a cart. I need to get more rounds under my belt and more playing time and that&#39;s what I&#39;m trying to do,&quot; he said.

Woods, who played in the unofficial Hero World Challenge invitational last month, is stepping up his comeback with a demanding series of tournaments as he targets April&#39;s Masters at Augusta.

But the 41-year-old could only reflect on a frustrating outing at Torrey Pines, the picturesque coastal course nestling against the Pacific Ocean just outside San Diego where he has won no fewer than eight times.

Teeing off on the 10th, Woods got off to a perfect start with a birdie on the opening hole to drop to three over.

But a bogey on his third hole of the day stunted any hopes of a birdie spree, and he battled his way around the remainder of the front nine with six pars and few real birdie chances.

The writing was on the wall after a bogey on his 12th hole, the par-three third, to drift out to five over. He pulled a shot back with a birdie on the par-five fifth, but it was too little too late.

Woods was not the only high-profile casualty on Friday, with world number one Jason Day and world number three Dustin Johnson also finishing outside the cut line.

(AFP)

The former world number one said he was 'frustrated' he was unable to generate any momentum at the Farmers Insurance Open

Tiger Woods' long-awaited PGA Tour comeback came to a premature end on Friday after the former world number one missed the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open. Woods had started the day at Torrey Pines Golf Course needing a low second round score to extend his participation into the weekend after a wayward four-over-par first round 76 on Thursday. But despite perfect conditions on Torrey Pines' more forgiving North Course, Woods again struggled to generate any momentum, carding a level par 72 which left him four-over after 36 holes. With the cut line projected at level par, Woods was left revising his plans for the weekend after a disappointing outing in his first PGA Tour event since August 2015. "It's frustrating, not being able to have a chance to win the tournament," Woods told reporters afterwards. "I didn't make the cut." Woods, who now heads to the Gulf for the Omega Dubai Desert Classic next week, took comfort from signs of improvement following his erratic opening round. "Overall today was a lot better than yesterday. I hit it better, I putted well again," Woods said. "I hit a lot of beautiful putts that didn't go in. But I hit it a lot better today which was nice," Woods said, adding that he will only get sharper after playing more tournaments. "Playing tournament golf is a bit different to playing with your buddies in a cart. I need to get more rounds under my belt and more playing time and that's what I'm trying to do," he said. Woods, who played in the unofficial Hero World Challenge invitational last month, is stepping up his comeback with a demanding series of tournaments as he targets April's Masters at Augusta. But the 41-year-old could only reflect on a frustrating outing at Torrey Pines, the picturesque coastal course nestling against the Pacific Ocean just outside San Diego where he has won no fewer than eight times. Teeing off on the 10th, Woods got off to a perfect start with a birdie on the opening hole to drop to three over. But a bogey on his third hole of the day stunted any hopes of a birdie spree, and he battled his way around the remainder of the front nine with six pars and few real birdie chances. The writing was on the wall after a bogey on his 12th hole, the par-three third, to drift out to five over. He pulled a shot back with a birdie on the par-five fifth, but it was too little too late. Woods was not the only high-profile casualty on Friday, with world number one Jason Day and world number three Dustin Johnson also finishing outside the cut line. (AFP)

Tiger Woods misses cut in comeback tournament

Tiger Woods said Monday he is confident that his battered 41-year-old body can withstand the rigours of playing in four golf tournaments over the next five weeks.

The 14-time major winner, who returned to golf in December at the Hero World Challenge following a 15-month injury layoff, has committed to a hectic schedule which will see him open his 2017 season at this week&#39;s Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego.

&quot;I have played one time in the last 18 months,&quot; American Woods said during a news conference Monday at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles. &quot;I just need to get in some tournament golf. I am looking forward to it.&quot;&nbsp;

After the Farmers at the Torrey Pines course, Woods will fly off to United Arab Emirates for the Dubai Desert Classic from February 2-5, followed by the Genesis Open at Riviera on February 16-19.&nbsp;

He then travels home to Florida to take part in the Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens (February 23-26).

The Farmers Open will be Woods&#39; first full field tournament since undergoing back surgery in 2015.&nbsp;

Asked if he is physically up to the task with all the injuries he has endured the past several years, Woods said: &quot;That is a concern but I am looking forward to it. I feel I am strong enough to handle the workload.&nbsp;

Ready fo the Masters

&quot;I sat out long enough. I have been on the sidelines so long.&quot;

Woods admitted Monday that he once doubted whether he would ever return to golf.

&quot;There was a time when I didn&#39;t know if I could ever swing a golf club again and play with my kids,&quot; he said.

The former world number one Woods may be far from his top form, but he says he still has his sights set on competing in the majors and his first order of business is the Masters in April.&nbsp;

&quot;I am hoping to get everything right so I can play,&quot; he said. &quot;I am thinking about it (Masters) now.&quot;

Woods has won the PGA Tour&#39;s Torrey Pines tournament seven times in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2013.

&quot;It was the first PGA tournament I went to,&quot; Woods said. &quot;So I got exposed to pro golf there.&quot;

Woods last won a major title at the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines by beating Rocco Mediate in an epic 19-hole playoff despite playing with a gimpy left knee that later required surgery.

His last PGA title was at the 2013 WGC event in Akron, Ohio.

When he tees it up at historic Riviera in just over three weeks it will be his first appearance in the event in 11 years.

&quot;I have always loved playing this course. I just never played it well,&quot; Woods said. &quot;I played here as a junior, an amateur and a professional. It is special place.&quot;

Last month, Tiger Woods played golf with then-President-elect Donald Trump at Trump International Golf Club in Florida.

Woods described Trump as a big hitter and said the 70-year-old was able to walk the entire 18 holes with him.

&quot;For a person who is 70 he hits it hard,&quot; said Woods. &quot;He keeps himself in pretty good shape. We walked all 18 holes and had a great time.&quot;

Asked if Trump could shoot a score of under 80 at the Riviera course, Woods paused, smiled and said, &quot;Not today. It is too wet out there.&quot;

In addition to finding his form, Woods will be facing in 2017 a new crop of rising young stars such as top ranked Aussie Jason Day, Japanese ace Hideki Matsuyama, four-time major winner Rory McIlroy, eight-time PGA Tour winner Jordan Spieth and the hottest player on the Tour Justin Thomas, who has won three tournaments so far this season.

Woods says he hasn&#39;t lost the fire and passion for the game that made him one of the best of all-time.&nbsp;

&quot;I am very excited about getting the season started. I miss playing and competing,&quot; said Woods, whose 14 major titles is second to only Jack Nicklaus&#39; record of 18.

(AFP)

The 14-time major winner will be looking to play four tourneys in the next five weeks following a 15-month injury layoff

Tiger Woods said Monday he is confident that his battered 41-year-old body can withstand the rigours of playing in four golf tournaments over the next five weeks. The 14-time major winner, who returned to golf in December at the Hero World Challenge following a 15-month injury layoff, has committed to a hectic schedule which will see him open his 2017 season at this week's Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego. "I have played one time in the last 18 months," American Woods said during a news conference Monday at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles. "I just need to get in some tournament golf. I am looking forward to it." After the Farmers at the Torrey Pines course, Woods will fly off to United Arab Emirates for the Dubai Desert Classic from February 2-5, followed by the Genesis Open at Riviera on February 16-19. He then travels home to Florida to take part in the Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens (February 23-26). The Farmers Open will be Woods' first full field tournament since undergoing back surgery in 2015. Asked if he is physically up to the task with all the injuries he has endured the past several years, Woods said: "That is a concern but I am looking forward to it. I feel I am strong enough to handle the workload. Ready fo the Masters "I sat out long enough. I have been on the sidelines so long." Woods admitted Monday that he once doubted whether he would ever return to golf. "There was a time when I didn't know if I could ever swing a golf club again and play with my kids," he said. The former world number one Woods may be far from his top form, but he says he still has his sights set on competing in the majors and his first order of business is the Masters in April. "I am hoping to get everything right so I can play," he said. "I am thinking about it (Masters) now." Woods has won the PGA Tour's Torrey Pines tournament seven times in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2013. "It was the first PGA tournament I went to," Woods said. "So I got exposed to pro golf there." Woods last won a major title at the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines by beating Rocco Mediate in an epic 19-hole playoff despite playing with a gimpy left knee that later required surgery. His last PGA title was at the 2013 WGC event in Akron, Ohio. When he tees it up at historic Riviera in just over three weeks it will be his first appearance in the event in 11 years. "I have always loved playing this course. I just never played it well," Woods said. "I played here as a junior, an amateur and a professional. It is special place." Last month, Tiger Woods played golf with then-President-elect Donald Trump at Trump International Golf Club in Florida. Woods described Trump as a big hitter and said the 70-year-old was able to walk the entire 18 holes with him. "For a person who is 70 he hits it hard," said Woods. "He keeps himself in pretty good shape. We walked all 18 holes and had a great time." Asked if Trump could shoot a score of under 80 at the Riviera course, Woods paused, smiled and said, "Not today. It is too wet out there." In addition to finding his form, Woods will be facing in 2017 a new crop of rising young stars such as top ranked Aussie Jason Day, Japanese ace Hideki Matsuyama, four-time major winner Rory McIlroy, eight-time PGA Tour winner Jordan Spieth and the hottest player on the Tour Justin Thomas, who has won three tournaments so far this season. Woods says he hasn't lost the fire and passion for the game that made him one of the best of all-time. "I am very excited about getting the season started. I miss playing and competing," said Woods, whose 14 major titles is second to only Jack Nicklaus' record of 18. (AFP)

Tiger Woods shakes off rust to prepare for Tour grind

Tiger Woods on Monday announced that he will not be making a comeback saying he was not &quot;yet ready&quot;&nbsp;to play.

&quot;After a lot of soul-searching and honest reflection, I know that I am not yet ready to play on the PGA Tour or compete in Turkey,&quot; said Woods, who was also due to take part in next month&#39;s Turkish Airlines Open in Antalya, AFP reported.

The delay in the much-awaited comeback by the professional golfer has raised questions about his ability to return the level of the&nbsp;sport he once ruled.

Woods announcement comes just three days after the PGA Tour issued a statement confirming his participation at the Safeway Open in California this week.

The number one said that concerns over his form rather than fitness were behind his decision to stay back. The 14-time major winner has been out of action since undergoing surgery last year to cure his long-standing back injury.

&quot;My health is good, and I feel strong, but my game is vulnerable and not where it needs to be,&quot; said Woods, adding that he hoped to play in December&#39;s Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.

Woods said that he had intended to play but he realised he was not ready to compete against the world&#39;s best. &quot;I spent a week with the US Ryder Cup Team, an honour and experience that inspired me even more to play. I practiced the last several days in California, but after a lot of hours, I knew I wasn&#39;t ready to compete against the best golfers in the world.&quot;

Woods apologised to Safeway Open, which had sold around 28,000 tickets after the golfer announced his comeback at the event.&nbsp;

&quot;I would like to apologise and send my regrets to Safeway, the Turkish Airlines Open, the fans in California and Turkey and those that had hoped to watch me compete on TV,&quot; Woods said. &quot;I will continue to strive to be able to play tournament golf. I&#39;m close and I won&#39;t stop until I get there.&quot;

Tournament host Johnny Miller admitted that Woods&#39; absence would affect the event.

&quot;Obviously it&rsquo;s a huge impact on our tournament,&quot; Miller told the Golf Channel. &nbsp;&quot;Obviously I wish Tiger the best. Everybody was so excited in the golf world. It&#39;s hard to break that news. It really is. It&#39;s hard being Tiger Woods, especially if you can&#39;t back it up with a semblance of the old Tiger Woods.&quot;&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from AFP)

The delay in the world number one's much-awaited comeback has raised questions about his ability to return to the?sport he once ruled

Tiger Woods on Monday announced that he will not be making a comeback saying he was not "yet ready" to play. "After a lot of soul-searching and honest reflection, I know that I am not yet ready to play on the PGA Tour or compete in Turkey," said Woods, who was also due to take part in next month's Turkish Airlines Open in Antalya, AFP reported. The delay in the much-awaited comeback by the professional golfer has raised questions about his ability to return the level of the sport he once ruled. Woods announcement comes just three days after the PGA Tour issued a statement confirming his participation at the Safeway Open in California this week. The number one said that concerns over his form rather than fitness were behind his decision to stay back. The 14-time major winner has been out of action since undergoing surgery last year to cure his long-standing back injury. "My health is good, and I feel strong, but my game is vulnerable and not where it needs to be," said Woods, adding that he hoped to play in December's Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. Woods said that he had intended to play but he realised he was not ready to compete against the world's best. "I spent a week with the US Ryder Cup Team, an honour and experience that inspired me even more to play. I practiced the last several days in California, but after a lot of hours, I knew I wasn't ready to compete against the best golfers in the world." Woods apologised to Safeway Open, which had sold around 28,000 tickets after the golfer announced his comeback at the event. "I would like to apologise and send my regrets to Safeway, the Turkish Airlines Open, the fans in California and Turkey and those that had hoped to watch me compete on TV," Woods said. "I will continue to strive to be able to play tournament golf. I'm close and I won't stop until I get there." Tournament host Johnny Miller admitted that Woods' absence would affect the event. "Obviously it’s a huge impact on our tournament," Miller told the Golf Channel. "Obviously I wish Tiger the best. Everybody was so excited in the golf world. It's hard to break that news. It really is. It's hard being Tiger Woods, especially if you can't back it up with a semblance of the old Tiger Woods." (WION with inputs from AFP)

Tiger Woods postpones comeback, says 'not yet ready'

Former world number one Tiger Woods is set to make a long-awaited return to competitive golf at next week&rsquo;s Safeway Open in Napa, California, the PGA Tour said on Friday, Reuters reported. 
&nbsp;

The American golfer, who has been a 14-time major champion, was sidelined for over a year while recovering from multiple back surgeries.

&nbsp;

The Safeway Open is the first event on the 2016-2017 PGA Tour and will be played from October &nbsp;13 to 16 at Silverado Resort and Spa.

&nbsp;

Woods has not played competitive golf since the Wyndham Championship in August 2015 and his ranking slid to 767 after his break.

&nbsp;

Woods had said last month that depending on his &quot;continued progress and recovery&quot; he hoped to play in Napa, the upcoming Turkish Airlines Open and the Tiger Woods Foundation-run Hero World Challenge in December, Reuters reported.

&nbsp;

The 40-year-old golfer has competed in only 18 events on the PGA tour since the end of 2013 while tackling injuries and poor form, recording just one top-10 finish along with six missed cuts and three withdrawals.

&nbsp;

&quot;It was difficult missing tournaments that are important to me, but this time I was smart about my recovery and didn&#39;t rush it,&quot; Woods said last month. &quot;I still have work to do.&rdquo;,&nbsp;Reuters reported.

&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from Reuters)

Injuries kept Woods away from competitive golf for over a year and the former world number one's ranking has plummeted to 767

Former world number one Tiger Woods is set to make a long-awaited return to competitive golf at next week’s Safeway Open in Napa, California, the PGA Tour said on Friday, Reuters reported. The American golfer, who has been a 14-time major champion, was sidelined for over a year while recovering from multiple back surgeries. The Safeway Open is the first event on the 2016-2017 PGA Tour and will be played from October 13 to 16 at Silverado Resort and Spa. Woods has not played competitive golf since the Wyndham Championship in August 2015 and his ranking slid to 767 after his break. Woods had said last month that depending on his "continued progress and recovery" he hoped to play in Napa, the upcoming Turkish Airlines Open and the Tiger Woods Foundation-run Hero World Challenge in December, Reuters reported. The 40-year-old golfer has competed in only 18 events on the PGA tour since the end of 2013 while tackling injuries and poor form, recording just one top-10 finish along with six missed cuts and three withdrawals. "It was difficult missing tournaments that are important to me, but this time I was smart about my recovery and didn't rush it," Woods said last month. "I still have work to do.”, Reuters reported. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

Tiger Woods returns to competitive golf

Tiger Woods said on Sunday he might not return to competitive golf this year following back surgery nine months ago, but he&#39;s counting on the wait being worthwhile by producing impressive form. 
 
The 14-time major champion updated his recovery status after Sunday&#39;s final round of the US PGA National at Congressional Country Club, which benefits his charity foundation. 
 
&quot;I&#39;m trying to get back as fast as I can,&quot; Woods said. &quot;It&#39;s frustrating not being able to play, especially at my own event. I miss being out here.&quot; 
 
Asked if there was a chance he might not play again this year, Woods said, &quot;I don`t know. I want to play. I don`t know if I will. But I am trying to... I&#39;m working my tail off.&quot; 
 
The British Open is only three weeks away and the year`s final major, the PGA Championship, is less than five weeks away. 
Woods never mentions a specific event when asked about a comeback timetable and he has admitted downplaying his status in comments about past injuries. 
 
But he talks time and again about having learned from past attempts to return too quickly from injury and setbacks he has suffered as a result.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;I would like to say next week. But I can&#39;t,&quot; Woods said. &quot;It&#39;s not fun. It&#39;s a tough road. I know I&#39;m getting better. I&#39;m progressing, but still I&#39;m just not quite ready to be out here. 
 
&quot;I can play with these guys. I know I still can. I just need to get healthy enough where I can do it on a regular basis.&quot; 
 
That, Woods said, requires getting into golf shape. That means even though he is playing 18 holes now on consecutive days, he must be able to handle all the stresses of tournament play over 72 holes. 
 
&quot;I still need to be golf fit, hit ball after ball to have my golf muscles back,&quot; Woods said. 
 
&quot;I am playing, just I need more time, I still need to get to get stronger, need to recover faster. Unfortunately it will take time. 
 
&quot;I&#39;m older. It takes longer to recover. I want to do it right so I don&#39;t have another surgery.&quot; 
 
South Africa&#39;s Ernie Els, a four-time major winner who played in Sunday&#39;s final group, made it clear he wants to see Woods return. 
 
&quot;When Ernie walked off, he made a beeline over to me and gave me a big hug and said, &#39;Get back out here,&#39; &quot; Woods said. &quot;That&#39;s awfully special because we&#39;ve been going at it for such a long time.&quot; 
 
Woods, 40, was able to show his children Els and try to explain how they have been rivals for nearly two decades. 
 
&quot;I was trying to explain to Sam and Charlie -- &#39;See that big guy over there on the 18th green? I&#39;ve been battling him for the last 19 years,&#39; &quot; Woods said. &quot;That was really cool.&quot; 
 
Woods has won 79 US PGA events, three shy of Sam Snead&#39;s all-time record, and his major total is four shy of the all-time record 18 won 
by Jack Nicklaus. 
 
But Woods, nagged by back and leg injuries, has not won a major since the 2008 US Open and has not won any title since the 2013 World Golf Championships Bridgestone Invitational. 
 
(AFP)

Woods has won 79 US PGA events, three short of Sam Snead's all-time record

Tiger Woods said on Sunday he might not return to competitive golf this year following back surgery nine months ago, but he's counting on the wait being worthwhile by producing impressive form. The 14-time major champion updated his recovery status after Sunday's final round of the US PGA National at Congressional Country Club, which benefits his charity foundation. "I'm trying to get back as fast as I can," Woods said. "It's frustrating not being able to play, especially at my own event. I miss being out here." Asked if there was a chance he might not play again this year, Woods said, "I don`t know. I want to play. I don`t know if I will. But I am trying to... I'm working my tail off." The British Open is only three weeks away and the year`s final major, the PGA Championship, is less than five weeks away. Woods never mentions a specific event when asked about a comeback timetable and he has admitted downplaying his status in comments about past injuries. But he talks time and again about having learned from past attempts to return too quickly from injury and setbacks he has suffered as a result. "I would like to say next week. But I can't," Woods said. "It's not fun. It's a tough road. I know I'm getting better. I'm progressing, but still I'm just not quite ready to be out here. "I can play with these guys. I know I still can. I just need to get healthy enough where I can do it on a regular basis." That, Woods said, requires getting into golf shape. That means even though he is playing 18 holes now on consecutive days, he must be able to handle all the stresses of tournament play over 72 holes. "I still need to be golf fit, hit ball after ball to have my golf muscles back," Woods said. "I am playing, just I need more time, I still need to get to get stronger, need to recover faster. Unfortunately it will take time. "I'm older. It takes longer to recover. I want to do it right so I don't have another surgery." South Africa's Ernie Els, a four-time major winner who played in Sunday's final group, made it clear he wants to see Woods return. "When Ernie walked off, he made a beeline over to me and gave me a big hug and said, 'Get back out here,' " Woods said. "That's awfully special because we've been going at it for such a long time." Woods, 40, was able to show his children Els and try to explain how they have been rivals for nearly two decades. "I was trying to explain to Sam and Charlie -- 'See that big guy over there on the 18th green? I've been battling him for the last 19 years,' " Woods said. "That was really cool." Woods has won 79 US PGA events, three shy of Sam Snead's all-time record, and his major total is four shy of the all-time record 18 won by Jack Nicklaus. But Woods, nagged by back and leg injuries, has not won a major since the 2008 US Open and has not won any title since the 2013 World Golf Championships Bridgestone Invitational. (AFP)

Golf: Tiger says he may not play this year

Tiger Woods ruled himself out of next week&#39;s U.S. Open at Oakmont and the Quicken Loans event he hosts to benefit his foundation. Yesterday the 40-year-old said that he is not yet ready to return to competition. 
 
Woods has not played since undergoing microdiscectomy back surgery last September. 
 
&quot;While I continue to work hard on getting healthy, I am not physically ready to play in this year&#39;s U.S. Open and the Quicken Loans National,&quot; Woods announced on his website. 
 
&quot;I am making progress, but I&#39;m not yet ready for tournament competition.&quot; 
 
Woods said he would host and attend the Quicken Loans National at Congressional the week following the U.S. Open held outside of Pittsburgh. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s the 10th year of our tournament, and we continue to support the community, the military and the programs of the Tiger Woods Foundation,&quot; he said. 
 
The golfer counts three U.S. Opens among his total of 14 major championship victories. 
 
His triumph in a playoff over Rocco Mediate at the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines marks his last major triumph and he finished runner-up at the U.S. championship in Oakmont in 2007. 
 
Woods remains proactively entered in the British Open, to be contested at Royal Troon from July 14-17.

The golfer, who has 14 major championship victories, underwent microdiscectomy back surgery last year.

Tiger Woods ruled himself out of next week's U.S. Open at Oakmont and the Quicken Loans event he hosts to benefit his foundation. Yesterday the 40-year-old said that he is not yet ready to return to competition. Woods has not played since undergoing microdiscectomy back surgery last September. "While I continue to work hard on getting healthy, I am not physically ready to play in this year's U.S. Open and the Quicken Loans National," Woods announced on his website. "I am making progress, but I'm not yet ready for tournament competition." Woods said he would host and attend the Quicken Loans National at Congressional the week following the U.S. Open held outside of Pittsburgh. "It's the 10th year of our tournament, and we continue to support the community, the military and the programs of the Tiger Woods Foundation," he said. The golfer counts three U.S. Opens among his total of 14 major championship victories. His triumph in a playoff over Rocco Mediate at the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines marks his last major triumph and he finished runner-up at the U.S. championship in Oakmont in 2007. Woods remains proactively entered in the British Open, to be contested at Royal Troon from July 14-17.

Tiger Woods not ready to participate in U.S. Open

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