NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — For the first time in more than a month, Tiger Woods appeared before reporters Tuesday and spoke about the balky left knee and Achilles that have derailed his career for the moment.
Woods, in rare moments of concessions to making wrong decisions, then proceeded to chastise himself for trying to come back too soon from his injuries and he revealed that his haste set him back to the point where he insisted he has no idea when he’ll return to competition.
“In retrospect it was a borderline call whether I should have played The Players,’’ Woods said. “I made the call on that and played and wasn’t quite 100 percent. Unfortunately I pushed it too hard and hurt myself, and this time around I’m not going to do that again. I’m setting no timetable, which is very different for me. Usually I set a timetable when I want to come back and play when I’ve had injuries before. This one is different. I’m just going to learn my lesson from what I did at the Players and apply it this time and come back when I’m 100 percent.”
Woods wore his traditional Nike garb, capped by a white hat with his “TW’’ logo on it, and he was sporting a full beard for the first time in memory. Woods, who is not competing at this week’s AT&T National at Aronimink, an event that benefits his foundation, refused to rule out playing in the British Open in two weeks. Listening to him speak, however, left you with little confidence that he’ll be at Royal St. Georges to play the British.
“I’m just playing it by ear right now,’’ said Woods, ,who has until a week from Friday to make a decision, because he’s required to commit by then.
“There’s no timetable. That’s hard for me. I’ve always been very goal-oriented about when I’m going to play, how I’m going to peak, how I’m going to get ready, how my practice schedule is going to be, and I’m not doing that this time.”
Woods spoke adamantly about how he’s learned to take a more conservative approach after limping off the TPC at Sawgrass 45 days ago when he shot a front nine 42 then withdrew. Woods Tuesday conceded that, had he not tried to play that week, he’d be playing this week. Instead, he only seemed confident in being able to re-join the tour at some point this season.
“I would be very surprised, because I’m progressing,” Woods said. “If I had knee surgery and I was out for awhile, then it’s a totally different deal. But I haven’t gone under the knife.’’
As for surgery, Woods said there has been no talk from his doctors about another operation.
“There has been no discussion about surgery at all,’’ Woods said. “There’s no surgery required at all.’’
What was required, listening to Woods, was more patience than a couple months ago when he decided to play in The Players after he hurt his knee in the third round of the Masters in April.
“I don’t know when that is going to be. That’s kind of the frustrating thing about it right now is I don’t know. I am getting stronger, starting to get more explosive again, and going to eventually start practicing and playing again, then ultimately come out here and play against these guys. .. I’m going to do it differently this time. I am going to come back when I’m 100 percent ready, which is different for me.’’
