BETHESDA — (CNN/WMAL ) He still thinks he can pass Jack Nicklaus as the most successful golfer ever, but Tiger Woods has no idea when he will return to competitive action.
The 14-time major champion maintains he is “progressing nicely” after a third back operation in October, but says he won’t resume his career until he can practice, play and recover with no ill effects.
And despite not having won a major since 2008, the 40-year-old still believes he can overhaul Nicklaus’ record of 18 major titles.
“I think his major championship record is certainly still attainable,” Woods told reporters at a media day for the PGA Tour’s Quicken Loans National tournament that he hosts at Congressional Country Club.
Woods is also keen to beat Sam Snead’s record of 82 PGA Tour wins — he lies second on the list with 79 titles, the last of which came in August 2013.
“It would be nice to end up at No. 1 on both lists,” he said. “That’s a long way away and it’s going to take time to get to that point but hopefully I can get back out here and play to that level.”
After several years of moving around – including two years at the Aronimink Golf Club near Philadelphia, Woods told reporters his tournament will be staying in the DC area permanently, though it will move as needed between Congressional, the Robert Trent Jones course in Gainesville, and TPC-Potomac at Avenel Farm, site of the former Kemper Open.
“The crowds we get – even though it can be a hundred degrees here – people still come out in droves, and really support this event,” said Woods. “And so, to us, it’s very important to keep it here, and we have a long term commitment here.”
Tiger finished the media event with a bit of an embarrassing moment. Taking a ceremonial swing across a water hazard on the 10th hole at Congressional with two amateurs, Tiger failed to find the green – not once, but all three times he tried. Both amateurs managed to find the green with their shots. See the video here: http://www.golfchannel.com/media/tiger-woods-puts-three-shots-water/
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