As Tiger Woods readies for his anticipated return to competitive golf at next week’s WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona, he said yesterday he was unsure what to expect out of his game after nearly eight months away.
“I’m as curious as you,” he said. “Getting out there and competing again, the rush of competing again. . . . I haven’t done that in a while.”
Though Woods admitted his concern is “whether or not my game is sharp,” he said his expectations for the Match Play are at their usual high level.
“Nothing changes,” Woods said. “Every time I enter [a tournament], it’s to win. That’s my intent, to go in there and win. Nothing has ever changed.
“Hopefully I can get into the flow of a round quickly. And in match play, each hole is an individual match. It pays to get off to a quick start.”
Woods said he has been playing holes every day since December, even winning a few bucks off some of his buddies in some informal matches. But Woods said he doesn’t know what to expect on Wednesday when he plays his first match.
“It’s one thing to do it in a practice environment against some buddies for a little bit of cash,” he said. “It’s a different deal in a PGA Tour event against the best players in the world. I’m looking forward to the challenge and experiencing that excitement again.”
Woods, who hasn’t played an event since he defeated Rocco Mediate in a playoff in June at the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, underwent reconstructive surgery on his left knee on June 24.
He has won the Match Play three times, including last year, and has won 23 of his past 26 matches in the event.
His fitness will be challenged should he advance to the weekend, when he would have to play 36 holes in a day.
“I’d like to have that problem,” Woods said.
