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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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News

Morning 9: Wyndham Clark on back injury | DiMarco’s bold Champions Tour take | Houston Open photos

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By Ben Alberstadt with Gianni Magliocco.

For comments: [email protected]

Good Thursday morning, golf fans, as day one of the Houston Open gets underway.

1. Wyndham Clark hurts back…still hopes to play

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach…”Reigning U.S. Open winner Wyndham Clark injured his back while working out at home Monday, but he hopes to play in this week’s Texas Children’s Houston Open, which starts Thursday at Memorial Park Golf Course.”

  • “Clark, the fourth-ranked golfer in the world, said he was lifting weights and “got caught in an awkward spot doing a lift and [his] back went.”
  • “It’s not something that happens regularly, but it happened and you live and you learn,” Clark said. “I’m trending in the right direction. I’m hitting it or feeling stronger and more mobile every day. I’m going to give it my best effort tomorrow and hopefully I can play and compete. If not, I’ve got to get ready for tournaments to come after this.”
Full piece.

2. DiMarco’s bold Champions Tour take

Our Matt Vincenzi…”While speaking on the Subpar podcast, former PGA Tour winner and current PGA Tour Champions player Chris DiMarco said he hopes LIV buys the Champions Tour.”

  • “We’re kind of hoping that LIV buys the Champions Tour,” he said.
  • “Let’s play for a little real money out here. I mean this is kind of a joke when we’re getting $2 million. There were like seven guys last week from TPC (Sawgrass, at the $25 million PLAYERS Championship) that made more money than our purses.”
Full piece.

3. Charley Hull’s course management problem?

Our Matt Vincenzi…”Charley Hull came just short of her third LPGA Tour victory over the weekend at the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship when she played her last two holes at 3 over to slip all the way to 10th on the leaderboard.”

  • “After the round, Hull was blasted by Sky Sports commentator and former LPGA Tour player Trish Johnson for her lack of golf course management.”
  • “While speaking on the Sky Sports Golf podcast, Johnson spoke harshly of Hull.”
  • “I’m probably her harshest critic, because I know how good she is. She doesn’t win anywhere near enough for her talent, and she doesn’t get involved enough, in all honestly.
  • “The thing with Charley is that you’re never going to change her. I read something the other day that said how much she loves the game and it’s her love of the game [that costs her]. She’s never going to change and she’s just going to go for every pin.
  • “In theory that’s great, but it won’t win you golf tournaments, it just won’t because she’s not that much better than anybody else.
Full piece.

4. Sahith’s interesting idea

Golf Channel’s Brentley Romine…”Which brings Theegala to his big idea: “There’s got to be something, like a fan challenge or – I think it would be awesome to see a scratch handicap go out and play like the Monday after a tournament, keep the same conditions and see what they would shoot just to put it into perspective how hard a PGA Tour golf course is.”

  • “Theegala loves the thought so much that he’d even come out and watch.”
  • “Shoot, I’d commentate on it,” Theegala added before continuing, “I have a pet peeve, sometimes when I watch golf on TV, a great example is hole 8 at Valspar last week. It’s a 230-yard par 3, the green’s 12 yards wide and someone will hit the middle of the green and, you know, they’ll be like, ‘Oh, really smart shot there.’ I’m like, ‘Well, no, he’s absolutely laced this 4-iron in the middle of the green, that’s right where he’s looking and to hit a 4-iron that straight is really, really hard.’ … Even like chipping, a lot of the stuff just looks flat on TV, but then when you get over the chip, like, oh, great, I have to land it over a mound on a downslope down grain?”
Full piece.

5. Top am Rachel Heck not going pro

Golf Channel’s Brentley Romine…”As Rachel Heck nears the end of her college golf career, she has decided that the LPGA isn’t for her.’

  • “Heck, the 22-year-old Stanford senior who won an NCAA individual title as a freshman and has climbed as high as second in the world amateur rankings, penned a first-person essay for No Laying Up in which she explained her reasoning for remaining amateur after graduation this summer and starting an internship not in professional golf but rather private equity. Heck, a political science major, also will be pinned as a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force.”

Read her piece on No Laying Up: https://nolayingup.com/blog/why-im-remaining-an-amateur

Full piece.

6. DJ’s new LIV signing

Golf Monthly’s Elliott Heath…”Dustin Johnson‘s LIV Golf team 4Aces GC has announced former TravisMathew CEO Chris Rosaasen as the side’s new General Manager.”

  • “Rosaasen, who is a long-time friend of Johnson, is also the founder of the team’s apparel sponsor Extracurricular and has been CEO of the Omniverse Group for the past four years.
  • “He joins with more than 20 years of “brand-building, marketing, and business leadership” according to LIV Golf, which says his “record of innovation in the golf industry will strengthen and accelerate the growth of the 4Aces GC brand.”
Full piece.

7. Photos from the Houston Open

  • Check out all of our photos from this week’s event!
Full piece.
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Four books for a springtime review

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One thing that never changes over time: snowy evenings give purpose to reading (is it the other way around?) It has been a snowy 2024 in western New York, and I’ve had ample time to tuck into an easy chair with a blanket, coffee, and a book. You’re in luck, because despite the title of this piece, I’ll share five books and their worth with you.

There is great breadth of subject matter from one to five. Golf is as complicated as life, which means that the cover of the book isn’t worth judging. The contents begin the tale, but there is so much more to each topic presented within. If you’re like me, your library grows each year. Despite the value of the virtual, the paper-printed word connects us to the past of golf and humanity. Here’s hoping that you’ll add one or more of these titles to your collection.

        

Rainmaker

Hughes Norton interviewed with Mark McCormack for 20 minutes (30 if you count the missed exit at Logan International) while driving the founder of IMG from Harvard to the airport. The lesson of taking advantage of each moment, of every dollar, because you might not get another opportunity, is the most valuable one that life offers. I say to you, be certain to read this book, because another opportunity to bend the ear of Hughes Norton may not come our way.

Hughes Norton was with Tiger Woods for waaayyy fewer years than you might guess, but they were the critical ones. Be warned: not all of the revelations in this tome are for the faint of heart. Some, in fact, will break your heart. Golf was a sleepy hamlet in the 1990s, until the 16-lane interstate called Eldrick “Tiger” Woods came into town. Everything changed, which meant that everything would change again and again, into eternity. Once the ball starts rolling, it’s impossible to stop.

My favorite aspect of this book is its candor. Hughes Norton is well into his time on Planet Earth. He has no reason to hold back, and he doesn’t. My least favorite aspect is that George Peper got the call to co-author the book (and I didn’t.) Seriously, there is no LFA for me, so this is the best that I could do.

Decision: Buy It!

The Golf Courses of Seth Raynor

Michael Wolf, James Sitar, and Jon Cavalier, in abject partnership, collaborated to produce a handsome volume on the work of gone-too-soon, engineer-turned-golf course architect. Seth Raynor was pulled into the game by Charles Blair MacDonald, the crusty godfather of American golf. Raynor played little golf across the 51 years of his life. His reason? He did not wish to corrupt his designs with the demands and failings of his own game.

Jon Cavalier began his photography career as a contributor to the Golf Club Atlas discussion group. I met him there in a virtual way (we still have yet to shake hands) and have exchanged numerous emails over the years. Despite the demands of his day job, Cavalier has blossomed into the most traveled and prolific course photographer alive today. His photography, both hand-held and drone, makes the pages pop. Michael Wolf invited me and two friends to play his home course, despite having never met any of us in person. His words, melded to those of James Sitar, are the glue that connect Cavalier’s photos.

My favorite aspect of the books is the access it gives to the private-club world of Raynor. Fewer than five of his courses are resort or public access, and knowing people on the inside is not available to all. My suggestion? Write a letter/email and see if a club will let you play. Can’t hurt to try! My one complaint about the book is its horizontal nature. Golf is wide, but I like a little vertical in my photos. It’s not much of a complaint, given the glorious contents within the covers.

Decision: Buy It!!

Big Green Book from The Golfer’s Journal

Beginning with its (over)size, and continuing through the entire contents, there is no descriptor that defines the genre of the Big Green Book. It is photography, essay, layout, poetry, graphics, and stream of consciousness. It harnesses the creative power of a lengthy masthead of today’s finest golf contributors. Quotes from Harvey Penick, verse from Billy Collins, and prose from John Updike partner with images pure and altered, to immerse you in the diverse golf spaces that define this planet.

One of my favorite aspects is the spaces between the words and photos. Have your friends and others write a few notes to you in those blank areas, to personalize your volume even more. One aspect that needs improvement: the lack of female voices. I suspect that will be remedied in future volumes.

Decision: Buy It!!!

Troublemaker and The Unplayable Lie

Books that allege discrimination and mistreatment check two boxes: potentially-salacious reads and debate over whose perspective is accurate. In the end, the presentation of salacious revelation rarely meets the expectation, and the debate over fault is seldom resolved. Lisa Cornwell spent years as a competitive junior and college golfer, before joining The Golf Channel as a reporter and program host.

Despite the dream assignments, there were clouds that covered the sun. Cornwell documents episodes of favoritism and descrimination against her, prior to her departure from The Golf Channel in 2021. Her work echoes the production of the late Marcia Chambers, who wrote for Golf Digest in the 1980s and 1990s. Chambers took issue with many of the potential and real legal issues surrounding golf and its policies of access/no access. Her research culminated in The Unplayable Lie, the first work of its kind to address issues confronted by all genders and ethnicities, and immediately predated the professional debut of Tiger Woods in 1997.

My favorite aspects of the two works, are the courage and conviction that it took to write them, and believe in them. My least favorite aspects are the consistent bias that many groups continue to face. Without awareness, there is no action. Without action, there is no change.

Decision: Buy Them!!!!

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open

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GolfWRX is on site in the Lone Star State this week for the Texas Children’s Houston Open.

General galleries from the putting green and range, WITBs — including Thorbjorn Olesen and Zac Blair — and several pull-out albums await.

As always, we’ll continue to update as more photos flow in. Check out links to all our photos from Houston below.

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.

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