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Tiger Woods

Bethesda. — Tiger Woods returns to competition today saying he is pain-free and healthy for the first time in two years and eager to add to his 14 major golf titles.
Woods is pain-free for the first time in two years but accepts he will never regain the game that saw him dominate golf for a decade.
The world number four returns for the first time since back surgery in April to play the US PGA Tour’s National event at Congressional today.
The 38-year-old won the last of his 14 major titles at the US Open at Torrey Pines in 2008.

Woods, sidelined for three months following back surgery to ease a pinched nerve, begins his comeback at the US$6.5 million US PGA National at Congressional Country Club.

“I’m actually probably ahead of schedule, where everyone thought I would be at,” Woods said. “It has been a very, very long time, probably a good two years since I’ve felt this way. The difference as I’ve aged is I can’t play the way I used to,” said Woods.

“But I’m pain-free. It’s been a very long time, probably a good two years since I’ve felt this way.”
Woods admitted on Tuesday that he probably would not have returned this week if it were not an event that benefits his charity foundation, his original goal having been to return in three weeks at the British Open at Royal Liverpool.

“We all thought the British Open would be my first event back, but I healed fast,” said Woods, who credited his physical therapists and attention to nutrition with speeding his recovery. Woods, who was toppled from atop the world rankings last month and is rated fifth this week, says that despite the nagging knee, leg and back injuries that have bothered him in recent years, he sees only minimal risk of reinjuring himself by returning sooner than first planned. — AFP.