Tiger Woods said if the tournament that starts Thursday, the Quicken Loans National, were not benefitting his Tiger Woods Foundation, he would not be making his first golfing appearance since March 31 back surgery.
Instead, Woods said he had targeted the British Open next month for his return to competition this year.
The surgery relieved a pinched nerve in his back. But since Woods’ team of doctors declared him ahead of schedule in his recovery, he opted to compete this week to help his organization. To wit: When Woods plays, people come out.
“If this wasn’t the foundation and our impact that we can have with kids, I probably would not (play),” Woods said at Congressional Country Club outside of Washington, D.C.
Although not completely healthy or sharp, Woods said the goal remains the same when he steps on the golf course: to win.
“Expectations don’t change,” Woods said. “That’s the ultimate goal. It’s just that it’s going to be a little bit harder this time. I just haven’t had the amount of prep and reps that I would like, but I’m good enough to play, and I’m going to give it a go.”
