Tiger Woods Says Body ‘Okay’ Ahead of His Third PGA at Valhalla

Tiger Woods has returned to Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, for a third time, with this week’s PGA Championship set to fall somewhere between his first two appearances.

In 2000, Woods won one of his most memorable major titles, outlasting Bob May in a final-round duel that included a three-hole playoff. A defining moment from that event was Woods marching behind his long putt on the first playoff hole at Valhalla, finger pointed, commanding the ball to go into the hole. It did, and Woods sealed the win with a trademark spinning fist pump.

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“It was a fun week and unbelievable moment, really,” Woods said on Tuesday.

Woods also reflected on the symbolic passing of the torch at that 2000 event as he played his first two rounds with Jack Nicklaus, who was competing in his final PGA Championship. Nicklaus missed the cut, while Woods pursued his third consecutive major title of the year, having already won the US Open and Open Championship. Woods became the first to win three majors in a calendar year since Ben Hogan in 1953 and would go on to achieve the “Tiger Slam” by winning the Masters in 2001.

“I just remember the pressure I felt,” Woods said of his quest to match Hogan. “…The summer was a whirlwind. I was playing well.”

However, Woods’ 2014 appearance at Valhalla was marred by back issues, leading to a missed cut at 6 over par. He had already undergone one back surgery by that time, and his spine was eventually fused.

“Coming into ‘14, I wasn’t feeling very good,” Woods admitted. “I’m always going to feel soreness and stiffness in my back, but that’s okay. I just need other body parts to start feeling better.”

This week’s PGA Championship marks Woods’ third tournament of the year. After a single-car accident in February 2021 and major surgery on his right leg, he has become a part-time participant on tour. He withdrew from the Genesis Open in February after one round due to illness and made the cut at the Masters last month, finishing 60th at 16 over par, the last among those who completed all four rounds.

“Yeah, my body’s okay. It is what it is,” Woods said. “I wish my game was a little bit sharper. I don’t have a lot of competitive reps, so I’m relying on my practice sessions and getting rehab done either at home or here on site. But at the end of the day, I need to be ready mentally and physically come Thursday. These early days of practicing at the golf course… get all that stuff done early so I can focus on literally playing and plotting my way around.”

Despite his diminished level of play, Woods still attracts large crowds and remains determined to win tournaments.

“I can still hit shots,” Woods said. “It’s getting around that is more of the difficulty I face day to day, and the recovery from either practice or pushing myself in competition. You saw it at Augusta. I was right there after two days and didn’t do well on the weekend.”

Woods is also planning for his future beyond playing. He could potentially become the next United States captain at the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black Course in Farmingdale, New York.

“We’re still talking,” Woods said. “There has been nothing confirmed yet. We’re still working on what that might look like and also whether I have the time to do it. I’m dedicating so much time to what we are doing with the PGA Tour. I don’t want to take the role of captaincy if I can’t do it.”