Tiger Woods pain-free ahead of 1st tournament since Masters - ESPN

NASSAU, Bahamas — Fifteen-time major champion Tiger Woods said Tuesday that the intense pain in his right ankle and foot are gone after he had fusion surgery less than eight months ago to address post-traumatic arthritis he suffered in a car wreck in February 2021.

On Thursday, Woods is scheduled to make his first start since the third round of the Masters in April at the Hero World Challenge. He hosts the tournament, which benefits his foundation.

«My game feels rusty, I haven't played in a while,» Woods said during a news conference Tuesday. «I had my subtalar fused. I'm excited to compete and play and I'm just as curious as all of you are to see what happens because I haven't done it in a while.

»I can tell you this: I don't have any of the pain that I had at Augusta or pre-that in my ankle. Well, other parts are taking the brunt of the load, so I'm a little more sore in other areas, but the ankle's good. So that surgery was a success."

Woods suggested that his improved health might allow him to play more competitive golf next year.

«I think that best scenario would be maybe a tournament a month,» Woods said. «I think that's realistic. You would have to start with maybe at Genesis [Invitational] and something in March near The Players.… [The PGA Tour schedule] sets itself up for that. Now, I need to get myself ready for all that. I think this week is a big step in that direction.»

Woods, who turns 48 on Dec. 30, withdrew during the delayed third round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in April. He was limping badly on the rain-soaked course and grimaced after most of his swings. Two weeks later, he had subtalar fusion surgery on his right ankle.

«At some point in time, I was going to have to get my ankle