Tiger Woods is still working on a return to the PGA Tour and is participating alongside Brooks Koepka

Tiger Woods hinted he is still considering a return to the PGA Tour despite slow progress in his rehabilitation from back surgery.

Woods went under the knife in October to replace a disc in his lower back and says middle age means he’s not recovering as quickly as earlier in his career.

The 50-year-old has hit short and mid-irons but has yet to unleash a driver.

He told ESPN: “Whenever that time comes when I start hitting drivers and start playing at home and start doing all the different things, I’ll have been away from the game for a year and a half, so I’ll be very rusty.

« There’s a lot that goes into it, so my preparation is going to have to be a little different than my other procedures that I’ve had in the past. I’ve had to be a lot more patient with myself. I get sore faster, I guess, because I’m 50. And that happens. »

Tiger Woods excited about Koepka’s return

Woods has not played on the PGA Tour since taking part in the 2024 Open Championship at Troon.

If he returns to the Tour, he will compete against Brooks Koepka following the American’s decision to return from LIV Golf.

Koepka chose to leave the Saudi-backed rival and return to the new returning members program, open to those who have won a major or the Players Championship since 2022.

« It’s amazing for all the fans, » Woods said of Koepka’s decision. « The fan initiative program that we did last year was what they wanted, they want to see the best play against the best. And Brooks wanted to come back a year early and he was able to do that. »

Woods is also a member of the PGA Tour’s policy board and says there should be no resentment toward Koepka.

« There’s some penalty damage, but it’s a meritocracy; that’s what makes our game so great, » he said. « (Koepka) is going to play full-field events, and he has the ability to make his way to signature events. If he’s good, he’s good. If he plays great, he plays great. If he wins tournaments, he wins tournaments. There’s no reason to hold him back. »