Earlier this week when Tiger Woods told reporters that he did not know when he'd return to the PGA Tour due to his current recovery from back surgery, some people took that out of context and suggested the 14-time major winner was contemplating retirement.
Well, he's not. And he confirmed that's not his intention it in a recent interview with Time Magazine. Woods sat down for a one-on-one with golf journalist Lorne Rubenstein and opened up about various topics that the public has only known about through the perspectives of pundits and gossip journalists.
However, the most important thing to take away from the whole interview was his answer to the final question. Let's be clear that Woods, one of the greatest competitors that's ever lived, is not thinking about retiring.
When asked if he could get back to the top of the PGA Tour again, here's what Woods responded:
"Absolutely. I have to get healthy in order to do it, though. I don't think I'll ever be 100% healthy, but as close as you can to that point, that would be nice. As long as I don't have the pain, then I don't think there would be an issue. I will probably play through a little bit of pain, aches and pains, as you get older, you have more aches and pains. But I don't need another surgery, period. Let's just not go down that road ever again. No more surgeries. Seven's enough. Four knees, three backs, that's enough."
However, that's not to say there's not a considerable amount of uncertainty regarding his injury. He underwent two back surgeries within six weeks of each other and the issue is with a nerve, which can vary drastically in terms of recovery time.
Early on in the interview he seemed at peace with the fact that there is a possibility his health may not allow him to return to golf. He said that his life with his kids is more important to him than anything, including golf, which indicates he has at least thought about what would happen if his back hindered his ability to ever play competitively again.
Rubenstein asked him, "Are you saying that if it did all end because of your injuries, you're not so uptight about it?"
Woods responded: "Put it this way. It's not what I want to have happen, and it's not what I'm planning on having happen. But if it does, it does. I've reconciled myself to it."
But let's not forget this is Tiger Woods. He's played through pain and injuries throughout his career. However, at this point, he has finally realized this injury is going to take more time and caution because he's getting older and back ailments are as serious as they get.
As we said earlier in the week, he's not retiring. He's resting (remember, he underwent surgery barely over a month ago), taking advice from his doctors (which he failed to do in the past) and is dying to get back on the PGA Tour to compete with so many of the newer young stars he's been unable to be atop the leaderboards with over the past few years.
