Tiger Woods fears ending his career ‘limping around like an old horse’

Tiger Woods, now 48, is grappling with frustration over his game as he faces continuous health setbacks while trying to extend his career. Recently, Woods missed the cut at the PGA Championship and finished last at the masters. A close friend revealed to the New York Post that these setbacks are weighing heavily on him, saying, “It’s setback after setback for him, and it’s really weighing heavily on him. He’s really frustrated as he figures out how to come back. He was p***ed at himself (at the PGA Championship). He’s got to do better. He would hate to have his career end up with him just limping around like a tired old horse. He doesn’t want to be embarrassing. He still wants to be a force.”

Woods, a 15-time major champion, has battled numerous issues in recent years. After missing the cut at The Masters, he underwent surgery to address plantar fasciitis. His struggles were compounded by a severe car accident in 2021, which resulted in significant damage to his right leg, nearly leading to amputation.

Despite his own challenges, Woods is deeply involved in his 15-year-old son Charlie’s golf development. He is careful not to exert too much pressure, trying to balance pushing and nurturing his son’s talent. “It’s almost funny to watch Tiger sometimes,” the friend said. “He gets so excited watching. If there’s a bad shot, he’ll wince. But he holds his tongue a lot; his dad was legendary, but pushed Tiger maybe too much. Tiger wants to be a balance of pushing, but also supporting and nurturing. He’s trying not to put too much pressure on Charlie.”

Woods has also been linked to the captaincy of the USA team for the next Ryder Cup, scheduled at Bethpage, New York, next year. Although Woods hinted that the role might not be suitable for him amidst the ongoing PGA Tour and LIV power struggle, discussions about his potential captaincy continue. PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh mentioned that they have been in talks for months and emphasized that Woods will not be rushed into a decision. “Tiger has been pretty clear. He doesn’t do anything that he’s not fully committed to, and we totally respect that. And he’s got a lot on his plate right now. He’s very active, obviously, on the PGA Tour side of things (in their negotiations with the Saudi Arabian backers of the LIV circuit).”