Tiger chipping, putting, says recovery from disk surgery 'slow' - ESPN

Fifteen-time major champion Tiger Woods said he only started chipping and putting last week and doesn't know when he might return to competitive golf.

Woods, speaking to reporters Tuesday at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, said he's not far along in his recovery from surgery to replace a disk in his lower back that had caused pain and mobility issues.

Woods had his seventh back procedure in New York on Oct. 10.

«It's been slow,» Woods said. «Not able to do much on a disk replacement to let it set; can't really do much. Now, we got the OK to start cranking up a little bit in the gym, started strengthening and started doing a little bit more of the rotational component that I haven't been able to do, just letting the disk kind of set.»

Woods isn't playing in this week's tournament, which he hosts and which benefits his TGR Foundation. He also won't compete with his son, Charlie, in the upcoming PNC Championship in Orlando, Florida, from Dec. 18-21.

He also will miss the start of the TGL indoor golf season, which tees off Dec. 28.

«Unfortunately, I've been through this rehab process before,» Woods said. «It's just step by step. Once I get a feel for practicing, exploding, playing, the recovery process, then I can assess where I'm going to play and how much I'll play.»

Woods, who turns 50 on Dec. 30, will be eligible to compete next season on the PGA Tour Champions circuit, in which he would be allowed to use a cart.

When Woods was asked if he plans to play in any senior tournaments in 2026, he joked that he would probably compete in 25 events on both tours.

«I think that should cover most of the year, right?» Woods said. «No, I'm just looking forward to just [getting] back to playing again. Let me do that, and then