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Tiger Woods cleared by doctor to return to golf

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A day after Tiger Woods posted video of himself hitting driver, and six months after the golfer’s fourth back surgery, Woods’ fans are getting some very good news.

Woods’ agent, Mark Steinberg, told ESPN’s Bob Harig Monday he’s been cleared to resume full golf activities.

“He got a nice report and is allowed to proceed,” Steinberg said. “He can do as much as he needs to do. Tiger is going to take this very, very slowly. This is good, but he plans to do it the right way.”

According to Woods’ agent, the golfer isn’t experiencing any pain as he ramps up his practice routine. Stenberg, however, was predictably mum on when the 14-time major champion could return to golf.

“We have not even talked about it,” Steinberg said. “We will see what each day brings, what each week brings.”

As recently as the Presidents Cup three weeks ago, Woods was limited to short wedge shots, so the pace of his progression from that point, and apparent lack of pain, are both excellent signs.

However, as Steinberg said, reading the tea leaves is premature at this point, although assuming Woods would like to be back in action by the Masters is a safe bet.

The 41-year-old hasn’t teed it up since withdrawing prior to the second round of the Dubai Desert Classic in February.

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41 Comments

41 Comments

  1. mlecuni

    Oct 19, 2017 at 4:01 am

    Hate him or Love him
    In the end, let his golf’s legacy talk for him

    • etc.

      Oct 19, 2017 at 2:53 pm

      His legacy? Elin swinging a 9-iron!

      • RMF

        Oct 19, 2017 at 4:21 pm

        More 14 majors, becoming the highest paid sporting personality, transcending his sport, inspiring a new generation of golfers, modernizing the game

        I could go on and on and on….

  2. Tom54

    Oct 18, 2017 at 9:26 pm

    The real issue is whether Tiger will return and be a ceremonial golfer. I just can’t see him playing if he doesn’t think he can be a factor out on tour anymore. It would be nice if he could play without pain (and excuses) for a year or two then he can assess his future on tour. Takes a lot of hard work to maintain a game at that level. I for one hope he can give it a whirl anyway.

  3. Jack Nash

    Oct 18, 2017 at 2:51 pm

    Let The Chipping Yips begin!

  4. johnnied

    Oct 18, 2017 at 12:49 pm

    The spinal fusion means less rotation, meaning slower swing speed. To keep up with the big boys he’ll want to make that up which’ll put additional stress to the area right above where the fusion occurred, and then he’ll need another fusion. He needs to be more accurate, not longer.

    I predict that Tiger will get back in the game but only for a short time until his back goes out again. Ask anybody who’s had that operation.

  5. William Pierce

    Oct 18, 2017 at 12:42 pm

    This song is a real toe tapper! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrudlJ9x4WA

  6. Bob Jones

    Oct 18, 2017 at 12:11 pm

    Geez. This is like the umpteenth return of Freddy Krueger. Enough already! What is professional golf lacking now that having TW playing would fix? Somebody please explain that to me. And exactly how will a diminished TW getting run over like a speeding truck by strong players almost half his age going to be “good for the game of golf?”

    • RMF

      Oct 19, 2017 at 8:42 am

      Well the basic premise of Tiger being good for the game is that he is the most recognizable figure in the world of golf, he is the player who took the game to popularity levels never seen before.

      He also is one of the hardest working athlete in the world. Now whether at 41 with surgeries he would be able to compete with DJ, Thomas, Spieth, Rors, Rahm etc is another thing. Oh and the fusion surgery he had is pretty much the same surgery a chap called Davis Love III had… he was unable to compete after surgery… wait he won the Wyndham at the age of 51…

      If you do not like him that’s fine, I have yet to see one commentator/golfer/friend/associate or sentient being say he needing to return to save the game of golf because as you alluded it doesn’t need saved, but he is certainly good for the game and it would be ignorant to think otherwise.

      • etc.

        Oct 19, 2017 at 3:02 pm

        Good for the game? You mean like Kaepernick or Magic Johnson?

        • RMF

          Oct 19, 2017 at 4:26 pm

          Why is Kaepernick bad for the game? he is right to protest against what he feels is unfair system… Isn’t America meant to be a country of free speech?

          or is it the land where Money is speech taking a knee is disrespectful

  7. MB

    Oct 18, 2017 at 3:17 am

    Hurts to just watch him plant on that left leg and you can still see he’s not sure if he should as he squeezes his cheeks when he pulls his club back

    • Eldrick T

      Oct 18, 2017 at 3:40 am

      Not cheeks, but gluteus. Get it right. But I don’t have much gluteus to squeeze, is why I look like I squeeze my cheeks to get my knees closer

  8. larry

    Oct 17, 2017 at 8:33 pm

    looser please don’t come back

    • RMF

      Oct 18, 2017 at 5:05 am

      You go first, Tiger is the GOAT and will return… If you don’t like it don’t read articles written about him and comment on them

    • chinchbugs

      Oct 18, 2017 at 7:22 am

      Please explain to those of us less educated what a looser is. Thanks!

    • candidresponses

      Oct 18, 2017 at 9:37 pm

      And I was so sure someone of your intellectual stature would know the difference between a “loser” and “looser.” How sad that an internet troll such as Larry here wouldn’t know the difference.

  9. M. Vegas

    Oct 17, 2017 at 7:04 pm

    Let the appearance fee action start…
    Do I hear $8 million?

  10. Pete

    Oct 17, 2017 at 6:40 pm

    I am not a Tiger fan but I do hope that he is able to comeback and be competitive. It will be good for the game of golf.

    • Eldrick T

      Oct 18, 2017 at 3:41 am

      I just want to get out there and see if I can pick up any more ladies, to see if I still got it. I’m not that ugly

  11. nyguy

    Oct 17, 2017 at 3:53 pm

    yawn…

  12. Andrew

    Oct 17, 2017 at 3:07 pm

    Steinberg needs his meal tickets and toilet paper dollars, Tiger. Hurry back. The tribe needs you.

  13. Mike C

    Oct 17, 2017 at 2:16 pm

    Here is why I think Tiger will play very well when he comes back and gets enough tournaments under his belt. The area where his fusion took place S1 to L5 there is almost zero rotation. So it should have no real effect on his ability to make a golf swing. This surgery should and apparently has left him pain free. We haven’t seen a Tiger Woods without debilitating nerve pain since he went down on his knees during the 2013 Fedex cup playoffs. The last time Tiger was truly healthy was 4 years ago and he was player of the year and #1 in the official world golf rankings. He doesn’t have to win 5+ times a year and regain his #1 ranking for this comeback to be deemed successful. He only has to to be 80% the player he was just 4 years ago. That seems very possible. Good luck Tiger.

    • golfreality

      Oct 17, 2017 at 2:52 pm

      80% and hell be playing web.com events

    • etc.

      Oct 17, 2017 at 5:59 pm

      Spinal fusion from S1 to L5 means he will have problems mounting and pumping the jam. He will have to take it on his back, otherwise he will jeopardize his spine and golf swing.
      Elin’s schadenfreude? LOL

  14. cgasucks

    Oct 17, 2017 at 8:49 am

    I really hope that he comes back and stays there. I don’t expect him to win every 3rd tournament like the old days but I do like to see him be on the first page of the leaderboard most of the time.

  15. Steve Sands

    Oct 16, 2017 at 10:25 pm

    Please take your time Tiger. We all want to see you back, and preferably making a healthy run.

  16. ACTUAL FACTS

    Oct 16, 2017 at 10:17 pm

    I sincerely hope that Tiger makes a healthy lasting comeback to the game of golf.

    • golfreality

      Oct 17, 2017 at 2:53 pm

      i hope the cheating egotistical drug addict never makes a cut again y pull for this guy i dont get it.

      • etc.

        Oct 17, 2017 at 6:01 pm

        He’s Black History.

      • Boobsy McKiss

        Oct 18, 2017 at 1:42 am

        Another perfect human being speaks his mind. Sickening how people on the internet refuse to forgive anyone for their past transgressions. There seems to be no forgiving anymore, only disdain, wretched hate, and constant vilifying until the person is beat down so much they go into hiding. Your comment speaks volumes to the sad state of society these days.

        • Forsbrand

          Oct 18, 2017 at 6:24 am

          Couldn’t be more to the point!!! Quite disgusting how through decades of supposed progression we still have individuals expressing such dinosaur comments. I’m always amazed would people still have the same views if in a room with these same people they have to troll on the internet.

          I’ve said this so many times, we have some young members on here please keep it clean and stick to golf!!!

        • Lance

          Oct 18, 2017 at 12:01 pm

          ^^^White trash liberal women weeping for their fantasy man. VVV

      • RMF

        Oct 19, 2017 at 8:50 am

        @golfreality I think you will find loads of exceptionally talented people battle with demons, whether they be athletes, musicians, mathematicians, actors. Just go and write a list of extremely successful people and you will find it littered with drunks, addicts etc you will also find it littered with people who have committed suicide come from broken homes, people with mental illnesses.

        People generally want to see them succeed as it shows you problems and challenges are there to be overcome and personal/mental/physical issues should not be a boundary if you have the drive to fight through them

        But I will assume you only listen to the clean living singers, only watch tv shows with actors who fit into your perfect world view

        If you don’t you are a hypocrite and should probably keep your mouth shut!

        • etc.

          Oct 19, 2017 at 2:59 pm

          …. but is he worthy of respect by young golfers, given his sordid past life? Forgiveness must be earned, not expected by a multi-millionaire trying to squeeze the last million$$$$ out of the golf industry…. Nike too.

          • RMF

            Oct 19, 2017 at 4:35 pm

            Of course he is worthy of respect and if you look at how the younger tour players flock to him you’ll understand he has their respect.

            As for forgiveness this is something that can only be given.

            Alexander Pope – To err is human; to forgive, divine

            Asa Don Brown – A life lived without forgiveness is a life lived in the past

            Martin Luther King Jr – We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies

        • Busty McBoob

          Oct 20, 2017 at 2:16 am

          Spot on chap. Spot on indeed.

          If the internet had been around in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, the ‘bad’ things athletes do these days would mostly pale in comparison. But, people like to harp on these guys because they’re rich and insanely successful. And because a lot of people have a jealous rage that burns inside of them. So much so, they have to focus on other people’s lives rather than bettering their own.

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Equipment

Rickie Fowler’s new putter: Standard-length Odyssey Jailbird 380 in custom orange

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Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a piece our Andrew Tursky originally wrote for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head over there for the full article. 

…The Jailbird craze hasn’t really slowed down in 2024, either. According to Odyssey rep Joe Toulon, there are about 18-20 Jailbird putter users on the PGA TOUR.

Most recently, Akshay Bhatia won the 2024 Valero Texas Open using a broomstick-style Odyssey Jailbird 380 putter and Webb Simpson is switching into a replica of that putter at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship.

Now, Fowler, who essentially started the whole Jailbird craze, is making a significant change to his putter setup.

Fowler, who has had a couple weeks off since the 2024 RBC Heritage, started experimenting with a new, custom-orange Jailbird 380 head that’s equipped with a standard 35-inch putter build, rather than his previous 38-inch counter-balanced setup.

According to Fowler, while he still likes the look and forgiveness of his Jailbird putter head, he’s looking to re-incorporate more feel into his hands during the putting stroke.

He told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday at the Wells Fargo Championship that the 38-inch counterbalanced setup “served its purpose” by helping him to neutralize his hands during the stroke, but now it’s time to try the standard-length putter with a standard-size SuperStroke Pistol Tour grip to help with his feel and speed control.

Although Fowler was also spotted testing standard-length mallets from L.A.B. Golf and Axis1 on Tuesday, he confirmed that the custom Odyssey Jailbird 380 is the putter he’ll use this week at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship.

Head over to PGATour.com for the full article. 

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Equipment

Details on Justin Thomas’ driver switch at the Wells Fargo Championship

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Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a piece our Andrew Tursky originally wrote for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head over there for the full article. 

So, with a couple of weeks off following his latest start at the 2024 RBC Heritage, Thomas sought to re-address his driver setup with the remote help of Titleist Tour fitting expert J.J. Van Wezenbeeck. About two weeks ago, Thomas and Van Wezenbeeck reviewed his recent driver stats, and discussed via phone call some possible driver and shaft combinations for him to try.

After receiving Van Wezenbeeck’s personalized shipment of product options while at home, Thomas found significant performance improvements with Titleist’s TSR2 head, equipped with Thomas’ familiar Mitsubishi Diamana ZF 60 TX shaft.

Compared to Thomas’ longtime TSR3 model, the TSR2 has a larger footprint and offers slightly higher spin and launch characteristics.

According to Van Wezenbeeck, Thomas has picked up about 2-3 mph of ball speed, to go along with 1.5 degrees higher launch and more predictable mishits.

“I’d say I’d been driving it fine, not driving it great, so I just wanted to, honestly, just test or try some stuff,” Thomas said on Tuesday in an interview with GolfWRX.com at Quail Hollow Club. “I had used that style of head a couple years ago (Thomas used a TSi2 driver around 2021); I know it’s supposed to have a little more spin. Obviously, yeah, I’d love to hit it further, but if I can get a little more spin and have my mishits be a little more consistent, I felt like obviously that’d be better for my driving…

“This (TSR2) has been great. I’ve really, really driven it well the week I’ve used it. Just hitting it more solid, I don’t know if it’s the look of it or what it is, but just a little bit more consistent with the spin numbers. Less knuckle-ball curves. It has been fast. Maybe just a little faster than what I was using. Maybe it could be something with the bigger head, maybe mentally it looks more forgiving.”

Head over to PGATour.com for the full article. 

 

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5 fall golf trip destinations you should book right now

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The 2024 golf season is in full swing with the warm weather settling in and those long summer days right around the corner, but what if we told you that you should be thinking about golf this fall? While it may seem to be a ways away, now is the perfect time to start putting together your end-of-season fall golf trip

Courses are in great shape, the weather is more enjoyable as temps cool off, and your golf game is in peak condition after playing all summer! The best part about fall golf trips is that there are some great deals to be found at golf destinations across the country! Additionally, you can get away to the Caribbean on an all-inclusive trip or travel across the pond for some links golf in the UK or Ireland before the end of their golf season in October. 

If you are happy to stay stateside this fall, here are the best golf destinations you should book for your fall trip.

Myrtle Beach, SC 

Commonly known as the “Golf Capital of the World”, this coastal destination is home to over 200 golf courses making it the ideal location for a golf trip! If you’re looking for golf and accommodation onsite, choose from a wide range of resorts including favorites like Barefoot and Legends. Alternatively, you could rent a house or stay by the beach and play top tracks like Caledonia, Grande Dunes, Pine Lakes, True Blue, TPC Myrtle Beach and many more! With a plethora of options, you will be able to customize your trip to stay within budget! Fall in South Carolina is a golfer’s paradise with minimal rain, sunny skies, and temperatures in the low 80s (dipping into the 70s in later fall with lower humidity), the perfect combination for a golf trip.

Scottsdale, AZ 

If you’ve never played golf in the desert, fall is the best time to do so and there is no better selection of desert layouts than Scottsdale. With a wide variety of golf resorts, courses, and attractions, it is easy to see why many professional golfers call this place home. Enjoy a golf and city trip with a stay close to the nightlife in Old Town and a tour of the local courses like Raven, McCormick Ranch, and Ocotillo. Head north of the city with a resort stay at The Westin Kierland or Hyatt Regency and play some Championship courses like TPC Scottsdale, Troon North, or Grayhawk. Or head out to the fabulous We-Ko-Pa Resort  and Golf Club and indulge in the ultimate desert golf experience. The weather in Scottsdale will be very warm (mid to high 80s), with cloudless skies and green grass contrasting the desert landscape.

Orlando, FL 

The golf mecca in the state of Florida, Orlando is a great golf destination any time of the year, but fall is really where it flourishes. Course conditions are impeccable, the weather is warm with fading humidity, and there are a multitude of off-course activities for the whole family. Stay & play at some of the best golf resorts like Reunion and Omni Championsgate or tick off a bucket list course when you visit Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill. A few other reasons this destination is so popular is the wide variety of rental houses throughout the area, perfect for a large group and the quality courses to choose from including Waldorf Astoria, Celebration, Shingle Creek, and the three Disney courses! With easy accessibility through the MCO Airport, Orlando is a no-brainer for a fall golf trip.

Las Vegas, NV 

PAIUTE GOLF RESORT – LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

A destination often overlooked when it comes to golf, Las Vegas in the fall is a wonderful treat! A stay on the iconic Las Vegas Strip gives you a wide range of 3 to 5-star hotel options within walking distance to the city’s biggest entertainment venues, casinos, restaurants, and more! For golf options, you will need to travel outside of the city (roughly 20 mins) to play some incredible desert layouts like Rio Secco, Revere, Cascata, and the trio of courses at Paiute Golf Resort. If you fancy a longer day trip, you can always take the hour-long drive up to Mesquite and play Wolf Creek and Conestoga for a pure desert golf experience. 

Alabama – Robert Trent Jones Trail 

If you’re a golf nerd (like me) and you’re looking for something a little different for your trip, look no further than the incredible RTJ Trail in Alabama. The Trail spans 11 different locations across the state with over 400 holes of golf all designed by legendary course designer Robert Trent Jones, Sr. The more popular courses on the trail are in Birmingham, Montgomery, and Auburn, making it perfect for an extended trip. Some of the best courses on the trail include Ross Bridge, Grand National (2 courses) and Capitol Hill (3 courses).Weather-wise, fall is the best time to hit the trail with average temps hovering around 80s (dipping into the 70s as fall goes on) with a limited amount of rainfall. The summer months are usually where the pricing is the highest so you can find the best deals in the fall with courses still in good condition. 

There has already been a huge uptick in fall golf trip bookings, so make sure to start planning now to get the travel dates and tee times you want for your group! 

Editor’s note: This article is presented in partnership with Golfbreaks. When you make a purchase through links in this article, GolfWRX may earn an affiliate commission. 

RELATED: 7 PGA TOUR courses you need to play

  

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