Tiger Woods admits he's 'rusty,' still eyes win at Genesis Invitational

PALISADES, Calif. — Tiger Woods said he's still having problems with his right ankle and dealing with plantar fasciitis in his right foot but insists he wouldn't be playing in this week's Genesis Invitational if he didn't think he could contend or even win.

Woods, 47, will be making his first start in an official PGA Tour event since he missed the cut at the 15th Open Championship at St. Andrews in July. He was forced to pull out of the Hero World Challenge, an event he hosts in the Bahamas in December, because of plantar fasciitis. He said the pain in his right foot hasn't completely gone away but is better.

«As far as the recovery, it's more my ankle, whether I can recover from day to day,» Woods said during a news conference on Tuesday. «The leg is better than it was last year, but it's my ankle. So being able to have it recover from day to day and meanwhile still stress it but have the recovery and also have the strength development at the same time, it's been an intricate little balance that we've had to dance.»

It has been almost two years since Woods was seriously injured in a car wreck not far from Riviera Country Club, the site of this week's tournament, which Woods hosts and benefits his foundation. Woods underwent multiple surgeries on his right leg and foot; he said surgeons nearly had to amputate his right leg.

«It's gotten so much better the last couple months,» Woods said. «I'm excited to go out there and compete and play with these guys. And I would not have put myself out here if I didn't think I could beat these guys and win the event. That's my mentality. I am very rusty, but I've come off a rusty situation before and I've done well.»

Winning or even competing on the weekend at Riviera Country Club