Tiger Woods believes he could play up to six tournaments next year as he plots his return to the course, according to a report.
The 47-year-old is set to return to competitive golf this weekend at his Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas after not playing since The Masters in April.
But fans could be seeing a lot more of the 15-time major winner next year as he has been telling people that he could play ‘five or six tournaments in 2024’, according to PGA Tour Radio’s Taylor Zarzour.
Zarzour reported that Woods is limping less than he was and that the PGA Tour icon believes walking is not going to be as great a problem to his golf game as it has been in recent years.
Woods made a remarkable return to competitive golf at The Masters in 2022, just 14 months after a single-car crash in February 2021 almost cost him his leg.
Tiger Woods believes he could play up to six tournaments next year ahead of his return
The 15-time major winner has struggled to walk the course since his 2021 horror car crash
However, the injuries he sustained during the accident have made walking the course a struggle with the 82-time winner on the PGA Tour limping at times.
Woods was in visible pain during the wet, blustery third round at Augusta National this year, before being forced to withdraw due to reaggravated plantar fasciitis.
He underwent surgery in April to help with the injury and has kept a relatively low profile on and off the course since.
Woods previously confessed that he is likely limited to playing the majors and one or two more tournaments for the remainder of his career.
Last December, Woods insisted that his game isn’t the issue but rather getting around the course. He said: ‘I can hit whatever shot you want, I just can’t walk.
‘I’ve had a few setbacks throughout the year, that I was somehow still able to play through. But this one, I just can’t. Only time can heal this one.’
The golf legend was in visible pain during the third round of The Masters earlier this year
Woods and 14-year-old son Charlie will compete ar the PNC Championship next month
He added that he has been able to shoot ‘four, five, six, seven-under par at home in a golf cart’ but reiterated that walking is a challenge.
Woods will be unable to use a cart during the 20-man field event in Albany, Bahamas this week but he will have access to one during the PNC Championship later next month, which he announced he will play in alongside son Charlie, 14, for a fourth time last week.
Woods’ last win came at the 2019 Zozo Championship, where he tied Sam Snead’s record for all-time PGA Tour wins of 82.
He has repeatedly insisted that he will not enter tournaments if he doesn’t believe he has a chance of winning.
